Nov.
7, 1963 - April 5, 2009SOUTH BEND - J. Michael Johnson, residing in South Bend, passed away at 1:25 a.m. Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Memorial Hospital of South Bend where he had been a patient for one week. He was 45 years old. He was born November 7, 1963, in South Bend, the son of Orville and Anna Mae (Evans) Johnson, and had lived here all of his life. His parents have preceded him in death. J. Michael received his bachelor's degree in music from Indiana University. He loved to entertain, and was the founder and director of South Bend Junxion. He also performed in Carnival for the Arts for many years in the 1980s. He was a member of the Elkhart Civic Theatre as director and performer. He played the role of Cornelius Hackel in Hello Dolly, and was director of Mak & Mable, The Fantastiks and The Chorus Line. He was also a member of South Bend Civic Theatre, and was Swing Mister with the Swing Sisters. He also played a starring role with "The Company" in the musical Chicago. J. Michael was employed as a career consultant with Goodwill Industries of North Indiana. He is survived by his life partner, Frank Whitmyer III of South Bend; his favorite aunt, Phyllis Feyos of Mishawaka; and three sisters, Kathleen Coil of Murfreesboro, TN, Jeanine Coley of Port Orange, FL, and Shirley Kull of South Bend. Services will be at 11 AM Wednesday, April 8th, in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Rev. Michael Dixon will officiate. Friends may call from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. today in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park. Contributions in memory of J. Michael Johnson may be made to Pet Refuge, 2300 West 6th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544 Online condolences may be sent to the Johnson family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.