Obituary for Lawrence Arthur "Larry" Johns
Lawrence Arthur Johns, age 94, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away at home surrounded by family on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Per Larry's wishes, a private family service will be held. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery. A memorial celebration will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the L.A. and Marilyn B. Johns Family Fund at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the Clark Family Funeral Chapel.
Larry was born on October 10, 1928, in Pontiac, MI, son of Arthur and Nettie (Bartlett) Johns. Larry graduated from Rochester High School class of 1945. He continued his education and graduated with highest honors from Michigan State University, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in 1949. He married Marilyn Claire Bresien on June 24, 1950, in East Lansing, MI. Larry continued his education by attending the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin and also received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Public Service) in 2000 from Central Michigan University.
Larry began his banking career at Rochester National Bank in Rochester, MI, in 1950. He served as the Exec. Vice President of Union State Bank, Laingsburg, MI, from 1955 to 1960. Larry joined Isabella Bank as a cashier in 1960, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1961, was promoted to Exec. Vice President in 1962, and became President and CEO in 1972. He served as the President of Isabella Bank for many years, retiring from this position in 1993. His services on the bank Board of Directors as a member and chairman continued until 1998. He served as chairman of the Isabella Bank Holding Company until his retirement.
Larry was elected Mayor of the City of Mt. Pleasant in 1970, named Mt. Pleasant's Outstanding Citizen of the year in 1973, President of the Michigan Bankers Association in 1975, received the Distinguished Bankers Award in 1984 from the Robert M. Perry School of Banking at CMU, and received the Outstanding Executive of the year in 1988 from the Financial Management Association. Larry was also a distinguished adjunct professor of banking at Central Michigan University. He was a member of many financial organizations including the Michigan Governor's Commission on the Regulation of Financial Institutions, a member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association, and a member of the Bankers Advisory Council of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.
Larry was deeply embedded in the Mt. Pleasant community. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Lions Club, a member and chairman of the Central Michigan Community Hospital Board of Directors, an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, a founding member and chairman of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. Larry enjoyed spending time with family and traveling the world with his wife, Marilyn.
Larry is survived by his children, Michael Johns of Denmark, Maine, Nancy (Richard) Domeyer of Dewitt, Alan (Kathy) Johns of Mt. Pleasant, and David Johns of Mt. Pleasant; eight grandchildren: Erin Domeyer, Jeffery (Jannene) Domeyer, Emily (Conor) Byrne, Brian Johns, Seth Johns, Travis (Katelyn) Johns, Ryan Johns, and Ashley Jarrett; and eight great-grandchildren.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn Johns on November 26, 2020; parents; and brother, Robert Monroe Johns.
Per Larry's wishes, a private family service will be held. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery. A memorial celebration will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the L.A. and Marilyn B. Johns Family Fund at the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation. Envelopes will be available at the Clark Family Funeral Chapel.
Larry was born on October 10, 1928, in Pontiac, MI, son of Arthur and Nettie (Bartlett) Johns. Larry graduated from Rochester High School class of 1945. He continued his education and graduated with highest honors from Michigan State University, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in 1949. He married Marilyn Claire Bresien on June 24, 1950, in East Lansing, MI. Larry continued his education by attending the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin and also received an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Public Service) in 2000 from Central Michigan University.
Larry began his banking career at Rochester National Bank in Rochester, MI, in 1950. He served as the Exec. Vice President of Union State Bank, Laingsburg, MI, from 1955 to 1960. Larry joined Isabella Bank as a cashier in 1960, was elected to the Board of Directors in 1961, was promoted to Exec. Vice President in 1962, and became President and CEO in 1972. He served as the President of Isabella Bank for many years, retiring from this position in 1993. His services on the bank Board of Directors as a member and chairman continued until 1998. He served as chairman of the Isabella Bank Holding Company until his retirement.
Larry was elected Mayor of the City of Mt. Pleasant in 1970, named Mt. Pleasant's Outstanding Citizen of the year in 1973, President of the Michigan Bankers Association in 1975, received the Distinguished Bankers Award in 1984 from the Robert M. Perry School of Banking at CMU, and received the Outstanding Executive of the year in 1988 from the Financial Management Association. Larry was also a distinguished adjunct professor of banking at Central Michigan University. He was a member of many financial organizations including the Michigan Governor's Commission on the Regulation of Financial Institutions, a member of the Board of Directors of the Detroit Branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank, a member of the Board of Directors of the American Bankers Association, and a member of the Bankers Advisory Council of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.
Larry was deeply embedded in the Mt. Pleasant community. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Lions Club, a member and chairman of the Central Michigan Community Hospital Board of Directors, an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Pleasant, a founding member and chairman of the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation and the Middle Michigan Development Corporation. Larry enjoyed spending time with family and traveling the world with his wife, Marilyn.
Larry is survived by his children, Michael Johns of Denmark, Maine, Nancy (Richard) Domeyer of Dewitt, Alan (Kathy) Johns of Mt. Pleasant, and David Johns of Mt. Pleasant; eight grandchildren: Erin Domeyer, Jeffery (Jannene) Domeyer, Emily (Conor) Byrne, Brian Johns, Seth Johns, Travis (Katelyn) Johns, Ryan Johns, and Ashley Jarrett; and eight great-grandchildren.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Marilyn Johns on November 26, 2020; parents; and brother, Robert Monroe Johns.