Alf Howard Johnsen

Alf Howard Johnsen, age 79, of Radford, Virginia, formerly of West Orange, New Jersey, and, for more than 45 years, the Lake Shawnee community in Jefferson Township, New Jersey, passed away on December 31, 2025. Born on August 10, 1946, in Orange, New Jersey, Alf was the son of Edith (Klev) and John Howard Johnsen. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Lillian (Johnsen) Kemper Belyea. Alf is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Lillian (Helle); his four children, Brian Johnsen (Alli), Eric Johnsen (Jennifer), Carolyn Clayton (Jason), and Douglas Johnsen (Crystal); his twin brother, Roy Johnsen, and his older brother, J. Arthur Johnsen; and seven grandchildren: Kyleigh, Blake, Moses, Aaron, Seryn, Jack, and Tommy. Alf was an active member of Grace Evangelical Free Church in Oak Ridge, New Jersey, where he served in numerous leadership roles, and later at Valley Bible Church in Radford, Virginia, after moving in 2016. His faith was central to his life, and his favorite verse was Isaiah 40:31. He graduated from Newark College of Engineering (now New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJIT) and worked as an engineer at Picatinny Arsenal and Austin Helle, Co., Inc. Alf was proud of his Norwegian heritage and loved singing in choirs, playing golf, enjoying the lake, listening to Bluegrass music, attending New York Giants games, making apheresis donations to the Red Cross, staying fit at the local gym, and supporting his children and grandchildren in their many activities. A Celebration of Life will be held at Valley Bible Church in Radford, Virginia on January 10th at 3:00 p.m. and will be live-streamed. A reception with light refreshments will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to AMIB (Association for the Multiple Impaired Blind, Inc.), 35 Beaverson Blvd., Building #13, Brick, NJ 08723, Valley Bible Church, 1300 2nd St., Radford, VA 24141, or Good Samaritan Hospice, 4751 Cove Rd., Roanoke, VA 24017.