David Gregory Johnson
February 23, 1948 ~ February 2, 2021
David Gregory Johnson,72, of Jefferson City, Missouri, passed away at home, surrounded by his loving family on February 2, 2021, from complications related to MDS.
He was born on February 23, 1948, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to parents Mary Louise Weber and Rev. Wright Ramsett Johnson.
He graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and received a B.S. in Social Studies Education and a Masters in Curriculum Development and Educational Psychology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
In his lifetime, David worked as an educator, community organizer, small business owner, and technology consultant. He was a Network Architect and Troubleshooter with IBM from 1996, until he retired in 2013.
David was a lifelong learner, voracious reader, and expert debater who always kept up to date on news and politics. He was known for his wide eyes, big smile, and expressive “Johnson eyebrows.” He was a committed fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and an active member of Grace Episcopal Church. He was a cherished friend and mentor who helped many people through difficult times.
Family was an abundant and celebratory part of David’s life and his memory will live on in those he loved. He married his high school sweetheart, Janie Eleanore Johnson (Bleeke) on August 19, 1967, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they have called Jefferson City home since 1979.
He is survived by his wife, Janie, his five children, and their spouses: Scott and Leeann Johnson (Columbia, MO), Chris and D’Arcy Johnson (Kansas City/Jefferson City, MO), Matthew and Brooke Johnson (Centerville, IA), Mark and Merideth Johnson (Jefferson City, MO), and Margaret Johnson and Ross Orenstein (Hovland, MN), his siblings and their spouses: Bruce and Bobbie Johnson (Ashburn, VA), Rev. Dr. Douglas and Sue Johnson (Kansas City, MO), and Anne and Mark O’Leary (Zionsville, IN), his 11 grandchildren: Callie, Julie, Aidan, Chase, Luke, Stella, Kellen, Kyler, Kash, Cooper, Carter, and his great grandson Knox.
Preceding David in death are his parents, his brother and spouse Brian and Seal Johnson, and angel grandchildren Karson Johnson and Hattie Crane.
Private family services will be held in the coming weeks. A high mass and celebration of David’s life will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City on the one-year anniversary of his passing.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Grace Episcopal Church or Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care.
Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.
He was born on February 23, 1948, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to parents Mary Louise Weber and Rev. Wright Ramsett Johnson.
He graduated from South Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and received a B.S. in Social Studies Education and a Masters in Curriculum Development and Educational Psychology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
In his lifetime, David worked as an educator, community organizer, small business owner, and technology consultant. He was a Network Architect and Troubleshooter with IBM from 1996, until he retired in 2013.
David was a lifelong learner, voracious reader, and expert debater who always kept up to date on news and politics. He was known for his wide eyes, big smile, and expressive “Johnson eyebrows.” He was a committed fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and an active member of Grace Episcopal Church. He was a cherished friend and mentor who helped many people through difficult times.
Family was an abundant and celebratory part of David’s life and his memory will live on in those he loved. He married his high school sweetheart, Janie Eleanore Johnson (Bleeke) on August 19, 1967, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and they have called Jefferson City home since 1979.
He is survived by his wife, Janie, his five children, and their spouses: Scott and Leeann Johnson (Columbia, MO), Chris and D’Arcy Johnson (Kansas City/Jefferson City, MO), Matthew and Brooke Johnson (Centerville, IA), Mark and Merideth Johnson (Jefferson City, MO), and Margaret Johnson and Ross Orenstein (Hovland, MN), his siblings and their spouses: Bruce and Bobbie Johnson (Ashburn, VA), Rev. Dr. Douglas and Sue Johnson (Kansas City, MO), and Anne and Mark O’Leary (Zionsville, IN), his 11 grandchildren: Callie, Julie, Aidan, Chase, Luke, Stella, Kellen, Kyler, Kash, Cooper, Carter, and his great grandson Knox.
Preceding David in death are his parents, his brother and spouse Brian and Seal Johnson, and angel grandchildren Karson Johnson and Hattie Crane.
Private family services will be held in the coming weeks. A high mass and celebration of David’s life will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City on the one-year anniversary of his passing.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Grace Episcopal Church or Compassus Hospice and Palliative Care.
Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Those wishing to send condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.
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My sincerest condolences go out to Janie and the entire Johnson family during this difficult time. Dave was an amazing man with a brilliant mind. He will be deeply missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.
So sorry for your loss. May he be in peace in the arms of his Heavenly Father. Dave was so interesting intelligent about many subjects and made Sunday morning coffee or scout meetings or even visiting in the livingroom with him in his favorite easy chair. He was a loving husband and Father as well as big Cardinals fan. My thoughts and prayers with you all
For memories and peace to my brother David and his family.
Dave always knew how to cheer me up. He gave the best honest advices when I needed them. Will miss him dearly! Hugs and prayers for you Janie and the kids
I’ve known David and Janie for nearly fifty years. We first met at Ball State in Muncie. The large kitchen in their house near campus was a gathering place for many of us, pitching in, sharing meals of macaroni and commodity blocks of American cheese, and just having a good time. I was fresh out of the Army and needed a place to become a civilian again. Their first son Scott was a tyke and provided much entertainment for us. Academics were important and we had many a conversation on the finer points of this or that. David could carry on a knowledgeable conversation on just about any topic. At one point he acquired an old Chevy Suburban, which in those days was basically a truck with three rows of school bus seats. It seemed to be as big as a bus and hauled a lot of us around on many a camping trip to a state park or other expedition. After graduation, chasing a dream, David and Janie and I tried farming together buying an old farm in Southern Indiana. Eventually, other opportunities called and I bought their share. I still have the farm. When they lived in Springfield, Mass, a car load of us drove out one winter holiday for a reunion of sorts. We kept in touch over the years. Their family grew, jobs became careers, but the connections remained strong. We last saw David and Janie in Jeff City at their 50th wedding anniversary. David was a keen conversationalist, full of curiosity and a zest for life. As a friend, a life-long traveler in this journey of life one could not ask for a better companion. When you were with David, he gave you his full attention. We could talk about anything together, always taking up where we left off no matter how long the separation. Life is too short, love your friends as he did. He taught me it’s the most important thing while we are on this earth. Bye ol’ Buddy. We’ll miss you.
❤️❤️ Patrick, Thank you for your loving tribute.