Orono and Millinocket, Maine - Robert C. "Dr. Bob" Johnson, 92, died on July 9, 2026, under the care of the loving staff at Dirigo Pines and Northern Light Hospice. Born in 1934 in Cloquet, Minnesota, to Rachel (Suline) and Clarence Johnson, he was disowned when he wanted to go to college instead of working at the family lumber mill.

He went on to graduate from Michigan Tech and the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Wisconsin, putting himself through college all the way through his PhD. Dr. Bob spent his career at Great Northern Paper Company, through all its iterations, retiring in 1994 as chief engineer of process. He was proud of his education, the work he had done, and of the friends that he made in his time at the mill. He met his wife Carol while in graduate school, and convinced her to move to Maine with him shortly after they married, despite their friends playing "Which Way to Millinocket" by Bert & I for them. They were married for 49 years, until her passing in 2009. Together, they raised their children, spending lots of time at camp on South Twin or on the cross-country ski trails in the woods surrounding Millinocket. He was fiercely proud of his kids and his grandchildren, who knew him fondly as G-Bob.

He was predeceased by Carol; and his younger brother, Les. Bob leaves behind his children, Wendy Baron (Paul), Jeff Johnson (Jenny), and Karen Johnson-Proulx (Michael). He also leaves his grandchildren, Caleb Johnson, Gabe Johnson, Susan Pomerleau, Amy Weavill, Dylan Sellinger, and Austin Sellinger; as well as three great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any scholarship fund you choose, or to Northern Light Home Care & Hospice, give.northernlighthealth.org.