Brian Robert Johnson

Brian Robert Johnson passed away June 21st, 2026 surrounded by family at his home in Fenton, Michigan.

He was born on March 22nd, 1959 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, son of Julia Ann Johnson (née Cole) and the late Robert Gordon Johnson.

Brian was a relatively quiet person. He kept calm under any situation and was always supportive and happy to help. He was a top-tier problem solver, and never let aesthetics or social norms impede a good solution to a problem (see the spatula whose broken handle he replaced with locking pliers, or photos of the year where his kitchen table was entirely covered with engine parts).

Brian grew up in Clarkston, MI alongside his siblings Sandra, Kenneth, and Elaine.

During his childhood he used his interest in practical engineering to get up to some hijinx, including:

-making a hot air balloon (no passengers) and launching it, following it in a car until it landed 80 miles away

-manufacturing basic gunpowder using a children's chemistry kit

-installing an intercom between his home and his neighbor Eric Cowen's

-making a giant slingshot out of an earth mover inner tube

-more pyrotechnics and recreational explosions than were advisable at the time

He then attended Michigan Tech University in Houghton, Michigan from 1977 to 1982 where he refined his engineering knowledge and also his liver's alcohol tolerance.

He married Sherri Lynn Liebau in 1985, having two children: Sarah Rose Liebau in 1990 and Adam James Liebau in 1993. Sarah inherited his sense of adventure and love for the outdoors, and Adam inherited his love for building things and unflappable attitude. Brian and Sherri divorced in 2021.

Aside from a 2-year stint in Turin, Italy, Brian lived his entire life in Michigan, hopping between Clarkston, Houghton, Royal Oak, Fenton, and Commerce Township before settling back in Fenton, MI in 2016.

Brian worked at Chrysler(/Daimler-Chrysler/Fiat-Chrysler/Stellantis) as an Aerothermal Engineer for 34 years, retiring in 2018.

He loved cars outside of his work as well, dedicating blood, sweat, and tears to restoring both his 1968 Pontiac GTO and his 1973 Pontiac GTO and tinkering on a number of other vehicles with friends.

Brian had an intense love of the outdoors inherited from his father Bob. He skied in Oregon, golfed in Florida, fished in Alaska, hunted in the Upper Peninsula, and hiked in Europe.

In retirement, Brian spent much of his time volunteering for the Pontiac Transportation Museum in Pontiac, Michigan, where he met his partner Bette Moen.

He supported environmental conservation through organizations such as the Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy. He was also politically active, supporting organizations like Black Lives Matter and attending No Kings protests.

Gifts can be made in the form of donations to the Pontiac Transportation Museum .