Former city fire chief, beloved Santa, dies

Robert K “Bob” Johnson, former chief of the Auburn Fire Department and sometime Santa for legions of kids, died on Dec. 28 in hospice care in northern Idaho. He was 81.

According to a message posted by his family on social media, Johnson had suffered from Parkinson’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis.

“Bob was a very strong person and carried on his life with grace and dignity while fighting his medical battles,” his wife, Jessie, wrote. “Bob’s spirit seldom wavered and he was a trooper to the end. He was always happy, cheerful and positive, even when he had to go from walking by himself to a walker to a wheelchair. He carried himself with dignity, pride and a positive attitude. Bob’s health was declining but the end was unexpected.”

According to the post, Johnson entered the Mannie Gladys Schneidmiller House, Hospice of North Idaho on Dec 26.

With Johnson when he passed were his children, Tyler and Kyndahl, their spouses, Patty and Shawn, granddaughter, Kelsye, stepson Rod and wife Jackie and their children.

“We believe Bob was able to hear us as he smiled at words like, bacon and Snickers bar. He talked about driving trucks, laying hose, visiting his mother and had a very happy and peaceful last few hours. I couldn’t have asked for any other ending for the man I loved so dearly for so many years,” Jessie Johnson wrote.

According to the Valley Regional Fire Authority (VRFA), Johnson was the Auburn Fire Department Chief from 1984 to 2002, having begun his fire service career in Tillamook, Ore.

“He led the AFD during a significant growth period and was very active in the Auburn community during his career and well into retirement. His wife Jessie shared that she appreciates everyone’s thoughts and prayers and is grateful that he was surrounded by family in his last few days. They had 28 great years together with today being their 23rd wedding anniversary,” the VRFA wrote.

For two years, Johnson was among the band of jolly old elves in residence at the Optimist Club’s downtown Santa House, offering a spacious lap and bending a hairy ear kid-ward.

His wife helped him into the suit and was known to play Mrs. Claus.

Among Johnson’s happiest memories as a downtown Santa, he told the Auburn Reporter in 2008, was the little boy who climbed onto his lap, clutching a toilet paper tube.

“When I asked him if he had any gifts he wanted from Santa, he unrolled this thing from the tube, and it had a catalogue, names, part numbers and prices,” Johnson said with a chuckle. “He was organized!”

Then there was the little girl who moved Johnson in a different way.

“I asked this little girl what she wanted for Christmas and she said, ‘A new daddy for my mama.’ I told her it might be a bit outside of Santa’s league because it takes more than Santa Claus to have a new papa.”

He was always a solid booster of the Auburn community.

“… During my time at the fire department, I met a lot of people,” Johnson said. “I hate to say that Auburn is better than any town I have been in, but honestly, it’s true.”

At Johnson’s request he will be cremated.

A memorial for Johnson is slated to take place in Auburn in the spring on a day yet to be chosen.