I tried this yesterday but it never got posted. Dan would have gotten a kick out of my technological illiteracy. For a guy who typed with two index fingers, he mastered technology. It was just like being hired to cover horse racing and subsequently having to master the subjects of municipal, county and state finance and politics. Which he did.
But his gift was as a wonderful friend. He was generous, always, whether with his time, talents or his compassion. Smart, funny, quirky, warm, he was one in a million, yet I don't think he ever appreciated what he meant to all of us. He always deflected conversations toward others.
He was a tireless reporter to whom a 40-hour work week was a mere suggestion. He drove his Ford Escorts all over the country and eventually into the ground.
He was the kind of guy who'd go to a Bennigan's in Tucson because of its multi-beer menu and still order Miller Lite. Or a Waffle House in Cincinnati and order pancakes. (They didn't have any)
He knew his stuff regardless of the beats he was assigned. And he pretty much covered everything by the time he was done at the Register.
His fight against a terminal disease extended nearly 10 years. He was a tougher SOB than any of us imagined.
He was a wonderful friend for many years and I will miss him terribly.
Jeff Johnson
11/22/2014
Dan and I were inseparable at big races across the country for more than a decade. I think most people thought we were brothers, and often I did too. He was kind, earnest, self-sacrificing and dedicated to his craft, with a subtle, dry sense of humor. He was given six months in 2005 by a doctor who evidently didn't appreciate his indefatigable spirit. Rest well, my friend. I will miss you.
Mary Lou and Jack Coady
11/22/2014
Sports lost a gifted writer with the passing of our friend and colleague, Dan Johnson. Dan was a rarity. His passion to cover the sports of baseball and horse racing was always present in the enormous effort he devoted in his writing. Dans wheelhouse was telling what made the individual competitors tick and how their efforts contributed to the whole of those sports. It was especially fascinating how Dan, night after night during his many years covering horse racing at Prairie Meadows, could turn in an interesting read following the nights feature race around 9:30 or 10:00 while quickly meeting the Des Moines Registers evening deadline. He proficiently banged out on his computer laptop quotes hed tracked down following a race from owners, trainers, and jockeys. He preferred finishing his story while sitting straight-legged, feet crossed at the ankles, on the cement floor in the Prairie Meadows winners circle. Prior to the Wi-Fi technology in recent years, Dan would navigate back to his desk on the fifth floor to transmit those stories by wire to meet the Registers deadline. Without regard to the extreme challenges brought on by cold, rain, heat, and humidity, Dan Johnson always sacrificed his own personal comfort for telling his story. Over the 25 years we knew him, not once did we ever hear him complain. Many comments on the internet and in print have already mentioned Dans signature phrase that Life is a 10. In addition, when asked how he was, especially after serious health issues began surfacing many years ago, Dans immediate response was often, The question is, how are you? All those years, it was never about Dan; it was always about Dans passion for telling the story and meeting deadline. Rest in peace, Dan. You will be greatly missed.
Mary Challender
11/22/2014
I'm going to miss Dan. My favorite memories include the pickup basketball games we use to play, Pretty regularly on sunny afternoons, Dan, Jane Burns, Danny Katayama and myself would skip out of work and head to Columbus Park to play basketball. I was always on Dan's team, probably to lessen his height advantage. When we finished playing, the four of us would always go to Club 2000 to rehydrate. I can't imagine a better way to spend a sunny summer afternoon or better company to spend it in.
John Carlson
11/21/2014
I'm so sorry to hear about Dan's passing. He was a wonderful guy and a delight to have as a colleague at the Register.
Bryce Miller
11/21/2014
Seeing Dan at the Register each day meant that a smile or a laugh was never far away. He was quirky, in the very, very best of ways, and always thought about others first. He was a knowledgeable, tireless advocate for women's basketball and horse racing - and one of the best people you were ever lucky enough to meet. We're a lesser place today. Thank you, D.J.
Larry Lehmer
11/21/2014
When we hired Dan to cover Prairie Meadows for The Register we hired someone else to do the handicapping. Dan was not bashful about pointing out what a mistake that was. He was right of course. No one could do it better. And, when our budget didn't allow for travel to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes, Dan found a way to make the trip, usually by car, because he thought it was important. When he left The Register, I was so glad that he landed at Prairie Meadows. Dan was a joy to be around, even when he was shoving me around in a pickup basketball game. I only wish I could hear him say, "The real question is, how are YOU!" once again.
Iowa HBPA
11/21/2014
Dan loved, and was always involved in horse racing. He was a true friend and a gifted writer. He will be sorely missed by all of us who are a part of horse racing.
Craig Alme
11/20/2014
I first met Dan in 98 playing CDM Baseball, I posted I was a Cubs fan, Dan told me he worked for a paper and covered the Iowa Cubs AAA team. We become instant friends. Years ago my wife and I met him for a Cubs - Twins game, we had a great time and it was great to meet in person. Over the last 16 years, I'm not sure 3-4 days has gone by without emails between us about sports, health, life, whatever. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew him, Dan you will be missed.
John Hernandez
11/20/2014
Dan "loved the game" (of racing). He will be sorely missed out at Prairie Meadows. "Life's a 10!"
Aly Ashe
11/20/2014
I knew Dan when I was a sports assistant in the early '90's. He was always positive and fun to be around. So sad to hear of his passing. So many. Too soon.
Charlie Wiegert
11/20/2014
On behalf of everyone at CDM Sports, we offer our condolences. We appreciate Dan being a loyal customer, and doing some of those extra things that would make our games more enjoyable for our customers. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, we thank you for allowing him to be part of ours.
Michael Cohen
11/20/2014
I too knew Dan only over the Internet, and due to our shared passion for baseball. But despite having never met him in person, I considered him a friend, and I am better for having known him. Not only did his knowledge and love of baseball always shine through, but so did his fundamental decency. And his humor- he just seemed like a very funny and nice guy. And he will be missed.
Mike "Shells" Lombardo
11/20/2014
Like Tom and Frank, I too shared a passion for Fantasy baseball with Dan and was an avid reader of his baseball blog.
I didn't know him beyond that and now that he's gone, it is my loss that I didn't.
If you could pass along facts about his life and death, I'll make sure that our little electronic community is informed.
May his spirit comfort you.
Tom "Closter Knickerbockers" Zownir
11/20/2014
Within the "community" of the Diamond Challenge" baseball bulletin posters, one of our luminaries was Dan "Springfield Isotopes" Johnson ... always a pleasure to read - well informed to be sure, but more importantly, warm, funny, genuine, friendly ... as treasured a member of our little world of sports fanatics as I'm sure he was to family and "non-electronic" friends. As "Godfather", another of our group, mentioned earlier, Dan ran a website for years that was not only informational, but an absolute howl, culling the best and the ridiculously worst of all the guys' baseball posts into a large "photograph" of the way we were. AOL lost it, somehow, but we remember it, and Dan, and the fun he brought us. God Bless and Peace be with you.
Susan Harman
11/25/2014
I tried this yesterday but it never got posted. Dan would have gotten a kick out of my technological illiteracy. For a guy who typed with two index fingers, he mastered technology. It was just like being hired to cover horse racing and subsequently having to master the subjects of municipal, county and state finance and politics. Which he did.
But his gift was as a wonderful friend. He was generous, always, whether with his time, talents or his compassion. Smart, funny, quirky, warm, he was one in a million, yet I don't think he ever appreciated what he meant to all of us. He always deflected conversations toward others.
He was a tireless reporter to whom a 40-hour work week was a mere suggestion. He drove his Ford Escorts all over the country and eventually into the ground.
He was the kind of guy who'd go to a Bennigan's in Tucson because of its multi-beer menu and still order Miller Lite. Or a Waffle House in Cincinnati and order pancakes. (They didn't have any)
He knew his stuff regardless of the beats he was assigned. And he pretty much covered everything by the time he was done at the Register.
His fight against a terminal disease extended nearly 10 years. He was a tougher SOB than any of us imagined.
He was a wonderful friend for many years and I will miss him terribly.
Jeff Johnson
11/22/2014
Dan and I were inseparable at big races across the country for more than a decade. I think most people thought we were brothers, and often I did too. He was kind, earnest, self-sacrificing and dedicated to his craft, with a subtle, dry sense of humor. He was given six months in 2005 by a doctor who evidently didn't appreciate his indefatigable spirit. Rest well, my friend. I will miss you.
Mary Lou and Jack Coady
11/22/2014
Sports lost a gifted writer with the passing of our friend and colleague, Dan Johnson. Dan was a rarity. His passion to cover the sports of baseball and horse racing was always present in the enormous effort he devoted in his writing. Dans wheelhouse was telling what made the individual competitors tick and how their efforts contributed to the whole of those sports. It was especially fascinating how Dan, night after night during his many years covering horse racing at Prairie Meadows, could turn in an interesting read following the nights feature race around 9:30 or 10:00 while quickly meeting the Des Moines Registers evening deadline. He proficiently banged out on his computer laptop quotes hed tracked down following a race from owners, trainers, and jockeys. He preferred finishing his story while sitting straight-legged, feet crossed at the ankles, on the cement floor in the Prairie Meadows winners circle. Prior to the Wi-Fi technology in recent years, Dan would navigate back to his desk on the fifth floor to transmit those stories by wire to meet the Registers deadline. Without regard to the extreme challenges brought on by cold, rain, heat, and humidity, Dan Johnson always sacrificed his own personal comfort for telling his story. Over the 25 years we knew him, not once did we ever hear him complain. Many comments on the internet and in print have already mentioned Dans signature phrase that Life is a 10. In addition, when asked how he was, especially after serious health issues began surfacing many years ago, Dans immediate response was often, The question is, how are you? All those years, it was never about Dan; it was always about Dans passion for telling the story and meeting deadline. Rest in peace, Dan. You will be greatly missed.
Mary Challender
11/22/2014
I'm going to miss Dan. My favorite memories include the pickup basketball games we use to play, Pretty regularly on sunny afternoons, Dan, Jane Burns, Danny Katayama and myself would skip out of work and head to Columbus Park to play basketball. I was always on Dan's team, probably to lessen his height advantage. When we finished playing, the four of us would always go to Club 2000 to rehydrate. I can't imagine a better way to spend a sunny summer afternoon or better company to spend it in.
John Carlson
11/21/2014
I'm so sorry to hear about Dan's passing. He was a wonderful guy and a delight to have as a colleague at the Register.
Bryce Miller
11/21/2014
Seeing Dan at the Register each day meant that a smile or a laugh was never far away. He was quirky, in the very, very best of ways, and always thought about others first. He was a knowledgeable, tireless advocate for women's basketball and horse racing - and one of the best people you were ever lucky enough to meet. We're a lesser place today. Thank you, D.J.
Larry Lehmer
11/21/2014
When we hired Dan to cover Prairie Meadows for The Register we hired someone else to do the handicapping. Dan was not bashful about pointing out what a mistake that was. He was right of course. No one could do it better. And, when our budget didn't allow for travel to the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes, Dan found a way to make the trip, usually by car, because he thought it was important. When he left The Register, I was so glad that he landed at Prairie Meadows. Dan was a joy to be around, even when he was shoving me around in a pickup basketball game. I only wish I could hear him say, "The real question is, how are YOU!" once again.
Iowa HBPA
11/21/2014
Dan loved, and was always involved in horse racing. He was a true friend and a gifted writer. He will be sorely missed by all of us who are a part of horse racing.
Craig Alme
11/20/2014
I first met Dan in 98 playing CDM Baseball, I posted I was a Cubs fan, Dan told me he worked for a paper and covered the Iowa Cubs AAA team. We become instant friends. Years ago my wife and I met him for a Cubs - Twins game, we had a great time and it was great to meet in person. Over the last 16 years, I'm not sure 3-4 days has gone by without emails between us about sports, health, life, whatever. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who knew him, Dan you will be missed.
John Hernandez
11/20/2014
Dan "loved the game" (of racing). He will be sorely missed out at Prairie Meadows. "Life's a 10!"
Aly Ashe
11/20/2014
I knew Dan when I was a sports assistant in the early '90's. He was always positive and fun to be around. So sad to hear of his passing. So many. Too soon.
Charlie Wiegert
11/20/2014
On behalf of everyone at CDM Sports, we offer our condolences. We appreciate Dan being a loyal customer, and doing some of those extra things that would make our games more enjoyable for our customers. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, we thank you for allowing him to be part of ours.
Michael Cohen
11/20/2014
I too knew Dan only over the Internet, and due to our shared passion for baseball. But despite having never met him in person, I considered him a friend, and I am better for having known him. Not only did his knowledge and love of baseball always shine through, but so did his fundamental decency. And his humor- he just seemed like a very funny and nice guy. And he will be missed.
Mike "Shells" Lombardo
11/20/2014
Like Tom and Frank, I too shared a passion for Fantasy baseball with Dan and was an avid reader of his baseball blog.
I didn't know him beyond that and now that he's gone, it is my loss that I didn't.
If you could pass along facts about his life and death, I'll make sure that our little electronic community is informed.
May his spirit comfort you.
Tom "Closter Knickerbockers" Zownir
11/20/2014
Within the "community" of the Diamond Challenge" baseball bulletin posters, one of our luminaries was Dan "Springfield Isotopes" Johnson ... always a pleasure to read - well informed to be sure, but more importantly, warm, funny, genuine, friendly ... as treasured a member of our little world of sports fanatics as I'm sure he was to family and "non-electronic" friends. As "Godfather", another of our group, mentioned earlier, Dan ran a website for years that was not only informational, but an absolute howl, culling the best and the ridiculously worst of all the guys' baseball posts into a large "photograph" of the way we were. AOL lost it, somehow, but we remember it, and Dan, and the fun he brought us. God Bless and Peace be with you.