Brandon Twp – His life’s plan changed but the dad in him remained the same.
Eighteen months ago, Brandon resident Scott Johanning’s family life irrevocably changed when his wife of 17 years passed away.
Karen’s untimely death left Johanning the single parent of two young girls, Alayna, 11, and Mikayla, 8.
‘Prioritizing,? said Johanning.
‘I make mistakes but I’m just trying to do what my wife would want me to do with them.?
‘And I have faith in the Lord.?
‘I’m very lucky, I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t have our daughters.?
Despite his fear of shortcomings, Johanning has changed his work schedule to meet his girls? needs.
‘This is unique, I’m not special,? said Johanning.
‘I just cannot give up on a job that has been given to me, and that is to raise these girls.?
‘That is to raise these girls to feel good about themselves and to like themselves and to be happy.?
As an anesthetist who works in the operating rooms of Troy Beaumont Hospital, Johanning’s work schedule is a demanding one that would normally require 10 hour worksdays. His coworkers, however, have coordinated scheduling so that he only works one extended day in order for him to be home in the evening for the girls activities such as homework, dance, piano, and swimming lessons.
‘All of us have to work a 10-hour shift, so I do it on Friday because it has less of an impact on the girls,? said Johanning.
‘All my co-workers are great with that.?
I’m also able to take time off work if one of them get sick.?.
‘I have a very understanding department,? he said.
Readjusting to his home life with the girls started with a basic principal. Cutting down on his work schedule was complemented by Johanning elevating them up to what he calls the important things.
‘I try to teach them by example,? said Johanning.
Johanning said he tries to do homework, cleaning, and cooking at night to minimize hectic Saturdays. He’s even gone so far as to forgo his pasttime of seasonal softball so that the girls can take swimming lessons on a day other than Saturday morning.
‘We treasure our Saturday mornings,? said Johanning.
‘We all decided together not to do Saturday activities so we can spend out day together.?
To settle into the school routine this year, Johanning said friend Jackie Harvey, of The Gift of Time, gets the girls off to school in the morning, and close family friend Joan Chapman picks the girls up after school. Johanning said the girls settled into the school year nicely, thanks to the help he gets from Harvey and Thompson.
‘I couldn’t do it without them, ? said Johanning. Their help is just phenomenal.?
‘My kids have bonded so well with these two ladies.?
‘I wouldn’t be able to do it without them, because I have no family here.?
An Indiana native, Johanning said Brandon will remain the family home because of the connections he has made with his friends at St. Anne’s Parish.
‘We moved out to this area after Karen got sick,? said Johanning.
‘We stayed out here because the quality of life is better in Ortonville.?
‘We connected with people at St. Anne’s Church. The people there have been phenomenal so that is home.?
‘For a transplant to connect with a group of people is a godsend.?
Instilling Karen’s memory and attributes within their two daughters is paramount to Johanning and living in a community familiar with Karen’s life serves as a comfort to him.
‘Since her death I’ve questioned why this happened and it has been revealed to me so many times from people who tell me she has touched so many people.?