Kenneth Johann

U.S. Navy Retired Kenneth F. Johann U.S. Navy Retired Kenneth Fred Johann, 92, of Las Vegas, passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, at home. Mr. Johann was born in the Bronx, N.Y., a son of the late George Edward and Charlotte Heinbockel Johann. In 1942, Mr. Johann joined the Long Island Merchant Marines and transferred into the U.S. Navy in January, 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy's Special Task Air Group One (STAG1) in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific where the first-ever combat strikes by drone aircraft were conducted. Mr. Johann earned the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, American Theatre Medal, and Victory Medal. In 1948, he relocated to Las Vegas, where his entrepreneurial spirit led him into numerous projects. His determination and work ethic allowed him to move from a "shoeshine boy" to waiter to owner of a restaurant, a hotel, and ultimately his own real estate agency where he closed deals with many noteworthy persons in Las Vegas. Mr. Johann was a real estate broker in Las Vegas for 55 years. His sales included numerous properties on the Las Vegas Strip and thousands of acres in Sandy Valley, and he was instrumental in the sale of the Aladdin Hotel. Mr. Johann has served as a commissioner on numerous boards, including the Clark County Planning Commission, Clark County Housing Authority, and Strip Beautification Commission. In addition, Mr. Johann served for many years as an organizer of the Las Vegas Old Timers Party, including the inaugural year. To participate in this event, residence in Las Vegas for 30 or more years is required and provides opportunities for some of the Las Vegas' great entertainers from past years another opportunity to perform as well as a chance to visit with their family and friends. In order to preserve the memory of his son, Peter, Mr. Johann became a major donor for the soccer program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The Peter Johann Memorial Field for the university's soccer program was the first major project along with the endowment of an annual scholarship for a deserving soccer player. In the following years, Mr. Johann's contributions have led to the re-sodding of the soccer field as well as the addition of stands and awnings at the field. Additionally, he was serving as a board member on the recently organized Soccer Foundation. Currently the Board is undertaking the building of a state-of-the-art stadium for the Peter Johann Memorial Field. The university has honored Mr. Johann and his late wife, Alice, by dedicating a park beside the soccer field in their names. Mr. Johann was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Phillips Johann; a son, Peter Phillip Johann; a sister, Winifred Johann von Frank; and a brother, George Edward Johann. Mr. Johann is survived by a sister, Charlotte Joan Brockschmidt, of River Edge, N.J.; a brother, Charles J. Johann (Barbara) of Bel Air, Md.; his Godson, James H. von Frank (Julie) of Florence, S.C.; very special friends, Janet Schoolcraft, Rich Ryerson and Jeff Wale, all of Las Vegas; and many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 1901 S. Maryland Parkway., Las Vegas. Burial immediately following at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1500 Las Vegas Blvd. N., Las Vegas.

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