Rense Johnson

Rensselaer (Rense) Robinson Johnson passed away on June 11, 2015 in Oklahoma City due to complications following a heart attack. Born on September 20, 1924 in Cleveland Heights, OH to Rensselaer R. and Helen A. Johnson, Rense fully lived life for 90 years. He was graduated from Denison University where he met the love of his life, Martha Jane Downing Johnson. They married on January 3, 1948 and moved to Philadelphia where he did graduate work at the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of PA. A Veteran of World War II, Rense spent three years in the U.S. Navy serving the country he loved as a lieutenant with the Scouts and Raiders Unit, a precursor to the Navy SEALS. Rense and Marty moved to East Texas in 1950 where he worked for Conoco. They ultimately settled in Lafayette, LA in 1956 where they raised their three daughters. Rense quickly adopted Louisiana as his home and became a happily transplanted "Yankee" in the heart of Cajun Country. He was an independent Petroleum Landman and was active in many petroleum organizations as well as numerous civic and social clubs. He embraced all that the SW Louisiana culture offered including crawfish boils, duck hunting, field trials with his nationally competitive labradors, and Mardi Gras. He served as the 23rd king of the Krewe of Troubadours. Rense was very outgoing and passionate about everything he did. He and his friends formed Citizens for Term Limits and successfully got Term Limits passed in the LA Legislature in 1995. After that, he continued to work tirelessly for many years to try to get Term Limits passed nationally. In 2000, Rense and Marty moved to Oklahoma City to be closer to family. When asked "How are you?" Rense never failed to answer "Better than I deserve!" Family meant everything to him and the week before his death, he enjoyed time in Hot Springs, AR with four generations of his immediate family, aged 3 to 90. He could not have been happier. Rense is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marty; daughters: Marty Margo and husband Robert, Helen Crow and husband H.E., Ruth McIver and husband Bobby; grandchildren: Amy Margo, Brad Margo, Matt McIver, Elizabeth McIver Cooper, and Rob McIver; and seven great-grandchildren. His family will remember him as a patriot who was extremely generous, thoughtful and very loving. A memorial celebrating Rense's life will be held in the chapel of Smith & Kernke on June 14, 2015 at 2:30 PM at 14624 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift may be made to Redeemer Reformed Church, PO Box 13431; Oklahoma City, OK 73113 or to the Salvation Army.