Charles John Pemberton Jr. Obituary (1959

Charles John (Johnny) Pemberton Jr. of Potterville, formerly of Marshall, went to his true home on August 29, 2020. He was born on February 5, 1959 to Sheila (Sellors) and Charles Pemberton Sr. Johnny grew up enjoying every season of Lyon Lake and attending Marshall Public Schools where he especially thrived in Art Class. Johnny was a "Jack of all trades" who could always be found with tools or a paint brush in hand. He worked numerous jobs from the time he was 14, including: Big Boy, Schuler's, and Tekonsha Engineering. In 1992, he moved to East Lansing and began a career as a Chauffeur then a Bus Driver for Dean Transportation. He held a caring spot in his heart for his Special Needs students that he drove to and from school. Johnny loved his dogs and was an automobile enthusiast. He would spend much of his time attending Car Shows and Swap Meets and restoring classic cars. One of his standout moments was when he and his father Charlie, restored a rare 1934 Austin Panel Truck that would later be put on display in the Auburn, Indiana car museum. Over the years, Johnny owned many different Corvettes and Cadillacs, from classic to current. He was a huge Bruce Springsteen Fan. He and his sister, Nancy, attended 13 concerts together. One memorable year during The Boss's "Pink Cadillac Tour', Johnny bought an old Cadillac, painted it pink with a Zebra striped hood and accented it with Bull Horns and a Chrome Shark Tooth grill to cruise to the Detroit concert in style. Johnny was a longtime Moose 676 member. Johnny will be remembered for his "Larger than Life" smile, his quick wit, and green thumb. He always made time for his niece Cory Shell, including watching Saturday cartoons and teaching her to blow bubble gum bubbles and ride a bike. Johnny was preceded in death by his Mother, Father, and his brothers Jimmy and Paul. He is survived by his sister Nancy Pemberton, sister Holly (Joel) Irish, niece Cory Siefke, niece Julia Irish, nephews Grant and Kordell Irish, nieces Victoria (Zack) Jarman and Jacqueline Pemberton, and nephew Tyler Rewa. A private service was held at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens in Grandville, MI. Johnny will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends. May he rest in peace.