Obituary for Everett LaVan Johnson
Retired Deputy Chief Everett LaVan Johnson of Chicago, Illinois passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the age of 75. Known as “Van” to family, he was born on November 25, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois to Hilliard Ramon Johnson and Henrietta Bernice Johnson (nee Cheshier). He had a brother, Ramon Douglas Johnson (known as “Doug” to family), who was two years older. After spending his early years in Chicago, Van and his brother Doug spent the rest of their primary and secondary school years at the family farm in South Haven, Michigan with their grandparents.
After Van finished high school, he headed off the University of Michigan on a track scholarship. Van graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering – Industrial and Operations Research Engineering and began his professional career with the Ford Motor Company in Saline, Michigan. Van ultimately decided engineering wasn’t the career for him. He entered the police academy and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1977.
Personally, Van married Joanna (nee Turner) in 1985. Through this union Van gained sons Deon Thomas and Derron Heard. The marriage was dissolved in 1990. When Van’s brother Doug passed in 1987, he took on the father role for his nephew Ramón Douglas Johnson, II.
Meanwhile, Van excelled with the Chicago Police Department. He received an extraordinary number of awards, which included Department Commendations, Honorable Mentions, Complementary Letters, South Shore Chamber of Commerce Awards, and Police Officer of the Month Public Transportation Section. Van’s performance earned him a series of promotions. After serving as a Field Training Officer, he was promoted to Sergeant. While he was a Sergeant, Van obtained a Master of Business Administration – Information Management from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Van was later promoted to Lieutenant, 6th District Commander, and then Assistant Deputy Superintendent. Van ultimately reached the rank Deputy Chief, serving as Deputy Chief of Area 4 Patrol Division, Deputy Chief of Bureau of Investigative Services, and Acting Chief of Organized Crime. Van retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2008.
Retirement allowed Van to spend more time with his mother. And, although he was a very private person and self-proclaimed “hermit,” he enjoyed the time he spent with those he loved. He was full of stories from his days at the University of Michigan, on the job at Ford, with the Chicago Police Department, and on the road with his uncle Isaac Douglas Cheshier and good friend Frank Scruggs. He was a great story teller, and you never minded hearing his stories again and again.
Van is survived by his nephew Ramón Douglas Johnson, II (Angie) with child Ramón Douglas Johnson, III of San Antonio, TX; son Deon Thomas (Dafna) with children Gabrielle and Liel Thomas of Chicago, Illinois; son Derron Heard with child Sophia Heard of Chicago, Illinois; aunt Arminda A. Cheshier of Casa Grande, AZ with children Isaac Douglas Cheshier, II (Debi), Dr. Samuel Henry Clay Cheshier (Darci), Dr. Jeanne Evelyn Cheshier-Alvarado (Alex Leger), and Arminda Bernice Perch (David); and many Cheshier and Johnson cousins and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents Hilliard and Henrietta, brother Doug, sister-in-law Sharon Ann Alnutt (nee Johnson), uncle Isaac Douglas Cheshier, uncle Rev. Robert Johnson, uncle Chester Johnson, uncle Oliver Johnson, Uncle O.L. Johnson and aunt Helen Perron (nee Johnson).
Visitation will be Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 2:00-7:00pm at Cage Memorial Chapel located at 7651 South Jeffery Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60649. Thursday, January 7, 2021 will start with a private family wake at 10:00am at Cage Memorial Chapel, followed by a St. Jude Service by the Chicago Police Department at 10:45am and a private family funeral service at 11:00am. Burial services will be Friday, January 8, 2021 with a processional leaving Filbrandt Family Funeral Home located at 1076 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan 49090 at 1:00pm heading to Monk’s Cemetery in Geneva Township.
After Van finished high school, he headed off the University of Michigan on a track scholarship. Van graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering – Industrial and Operations Research Engineering and began his professional career with the Ford Motor Company in Saline, Michigan. Van ultimately decided engineering wasn’t the career for him. He entered the police academy and joined the Chicago Police Department in 1977.
Personally, Van married Joanna (nee Turner) in 1985. Through this union Van gained sons Deon Thomas and Derron Heard. The marriage was dissolved in 1990. When Van’s brother Doug passed in 1987, he took on the father role for his nephew Ramón Douglas Johnson, II.
Meanwhile, Van excelled with the Chicago Police Department. He received an extraordinary number of awards, which included Department Commendations, Honorable Mentions, Complementary Letters, South Shore Chamber of Commerce Awards, and Police Officer of the Month Public Transportation Section. Van’s performance earned him a series of promotions. After serving as a Field Training Officer, he was promoted to Sergeant. While he was a Sergeant, Van obtained a Master of Business Administration – Information Management from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Van was later promoted to Lieutenant, 6th District Commander, and then Assistant Deputy Superintendent. Van ultimately reached the rank Deputy Chief, serving as Deputy Chief of Area 4 Patrol Division, Deputy Chief of Bureau of Investigative Services, and Acting Chief of Organized Crime. Van retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2008.
Retirement allowed Van to spend more time with his mother. And, although he was a very private person and self-proclaimed “hermit,” he enjoyed the time he spent with those he loved. He was full of stories from his days at the University of Michigan, on the job at Ford, with the Chicago Police Department, and on the road with his uncle Isaac Douglas Cheshier and good friend Frank Scruggs. He was a great story teller, and you never minded hearing his stories again and again.
Van is survived by his nephew Ramón Douglas Johnson, II (Angie) with child Ramón Douglas Johnson, III of San Antonio, TX; son Deon Thomas (Dafna) with children Gabrielle and Liel Thomas of Chicago, Illinois; son Derron Heard with child Sophia Heard of Chicago, Illinois; aunt Arminda A. Cheshier of Casa Grande, AZ with children Isaac Douglas Cheshier, II (Debi), Dr. Samuel Henry Clay Cheshier (Darci), Dr. Jeanne Evelyn Cheshier-Alvarado (Alex Leger), and Arminda Bernice Perch (David); and many Cheshier and Johnson cousins and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents Hilliard and Henrietta, brother Doug, sister-in-law Sharon Ann Alnutt (nee Johnson), uncle Isaac Douglas Cheshier, uncle Rev. Robert Johnson, uncle Chester Johnson, uncle Oliver Johnson, Uncle O.L. Johnson and aunt Helen Perron (nee Johnson).
Visitation will be Wednesday, January 6, 2021 from 2:00-7:00pm at Cage Memorial Chapel located at 7651 South Jeffery Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60649. Thursday, January 7, 2021 will start with a private family wake at 10:00am at Cage Memorial Chapel, followed by a St. Jude Service by the Chicago Police Department at 10:45am and a private family funeral service at 11:00am. Burial services will be Friday, January 8, 2021 with a processional leaving Filbrandt Family Funeral Home located at 1076 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan 49090 at 1:00pm heading to Monk’s Cemetery in Geneva Township.