Michael Johnson
May 10, 2009
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Service Details
Michael Wayne Johnson, the son of Frank and Billie (Bailey) Johnson was born November 17, 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was educated in the Des Moines school system, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1971. Mike married Angela Dunston on July 8, 1972 and they moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa where they were both students at the University of Northern Iowa.
In 1975, Mike left school to work at John Deere in Waterloo. In 1986, Mike returned to UNI, graduating in 1988 with a BA in Sociology. He went from there to the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, graduating in 1992. Mike served the Kellogg Christian Church (Kellogg, IA) from 1989 to 2000, Valley View Christian Church (Fridley, MN) from 2000 to 2002, and the Carlisle Christian Church (Carlisle, IA) from 2002 to 2007. Mike was currently serving the Kellogg Christian Church and was very close to finishing his Doctor of Ministry degree through United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.
Mike was a member of the Boy Scout movement most of his life, earning the Eagle Scout Award in 1971. He was also involved in city government in Kellogg, the Carlisle Betterment Group, and Carlisle Historical Society. Mike was extremely involved in suicide prevention programs and was the founder and first director of the Iowa Suicide Prevention and Education Center.
Those remaining to keep Mike’s memory alive are his wife Angela, daughter Gayle (Alex) Kingery, son Jeremy (Kristin) Johnson, sisters Cathie (Ric) Graves and Pat (Mike) Wahl, brothers Jim (Jenine) Johnson and Steve (Terri) Johnson, parents by marriage Raleigh and Shirley Dunston, brother by marriage Raleigh (Pam) Dunston, sisters by marriage Cyndi Barber and Tracy (Tom) Willis, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and close cousins. Mike is also survived by his much anticipated grandchild, due in August.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at Park Avenue Christian Church, with burial following at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12th at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th St.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mike’s name to the Iowa Suicide Prevention and Education Center, the Boy Scouts of America, or the Kellogg Christian Church.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
eric james lashomb
06/17/2013
I WAS SAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAD PASSED ON YOU WERE A VERY GOOD MAN YOU DID MANY THINGS AND EVEN BAPTIZED ME AND YOU WERE THE ONLY PERSON THAT I COULD TALK TO ABOUT THE LORD AND NOW THAT HE HAS YOU I KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS MAY YOU REST IN ETERNAL PEACE AND REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE ALSO A MENTOR FOR ME I LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU
BLESS BE WITH YOU IN HEAVEN
ERIC JAMES LASHOMB~CAMRON
Michelle Lane (Datatel)
05/13/2009
Angela and your family,
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Michelle
Audra Pietz-Porter
05/13/2009
Mike was a wonderful man. He did the funeral services for just about everyone in our family. He was always teasing my dad, Kenny Pietz, that he had his speech already start. Dad just had to die so he could finish it. Lucky Mike lived longer than dad so he got to finish it. Hopefully my dad and your dad don't cause to much trouble up there. Oh Padre you will be missed by so many. We all just need to remember those words of hope and prayer and encouragement that you have said to us over the yrs and bring those words back from memory and use them at this time. You will be missed greatly.
Margie
05/13/2009
I had the honor of getting to know Mike through his role in the National Survivors of Suicide conference the past few years. I want to extend my condolences to the family and to tell you how much we will miss Mike and his passionate work in suicide prevention.
Claudia Bessley-Hayes
05/13/2009
God circle you, Angela,
Keep love in, keep regrets out.
God circle your family,
Keep love in, keep sorow out.
God fill your circle, Angela
Keep love in, keep love in, keep love in.
I am so sorry for your loss, Angela. You and your family are in my prayers.
Love,
Claudia
Biss Eatwell
05/12/2009
When I heard that Mike had passed away I thought of his family that he loved and spoke often about. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to each of you. I had the pleasure of knowing Mike when I lived in Kellogg. He was a wonderful man with wisdom and wit. I will miss him. God has a plan for Mike and I know that he will embrace this with much compassion as he did everything else in his life. Biss
Kathy Richardson
05/12/2009
Please accept our families condolences at this time. Mike performed the services for our father (Maynard Deppe) when he passed away April 5th. It is probably not often that compliments are received after a funeral service, but we received many after the service for dad. We had many people tell us that Mike had given the best service they had ever heard, and that his voice was so magnificent. A DVD was made of that service, and I hope I am not out of line by offering a copy to your family if you wish to have one. It is such a good memory of Mike and the wonderfull job that he did for us that day. If you would like a copy, just send me an e-mail with your address and I will be happy to make sure you receive one.
Sincerely,
Kathy Richardson
kathyr@iowatelecom.net.
AJ & Adam Seeley
05/12/2009
Dear Angela, Gayle, and Jeremy
Our deepest sympathies to you at this time. Mike was a good friend to us and his humor and kindness will greatly be missed. We will always have what he gave us and be forever grateful for all the wonderful moments. Mike, we thank you for your love and time you gave us.
Melissa Lutgen-Scoonover
05/12/2009
All of us at Hastings wish your family blessings and comfort at this time. We will miss seeing Mike at our store. We all hope that Jeremy, in particular, will know our love and friendship is always here for him in Ames.
David Bilyea
05/12/2009
I did not know Mike on a personal level. However I have worked with his son Jeremy for many years. I know that from having worked with Jeremy that the apple does not fall far from the tree and Mike and Angela raised a fine upstanding young man. Jeremy has spoken to me about his father and it was always in a very kind and love filled relationship. My sympathy goes to the entire faimly, as Mike has moved on to enter Gods kindom.
DeNeil Moes
05/12/2009
Dear Angela and family,
My heart goes out to you during this time. Although I didn't personally know Mike, I have heard many wonderful things about him in the Kellogg community. I know that he will be greatly missed by many. Please know that I am thinking of you. May prayer is that God will grant you the grace and peace that you need during the coming years.
DeNeil Moes
Shane Marquette
05/12/2009
My family were friends with Mr. Johnson and as a child his family was very special to us growing up. I know he touched many with the Lord's living word. While it is difficult to say, and may be difficult to hear for those grieving, there is JOY to celebrate in his new life with Christ. He has instantly been transformed into wonderful glory with the Father. God bless.
Julie Price Barnd
05/12/2009
Dear Angela and Family,
Please accept my deep sympathies over your great loss of Mike. I was stunned to get the message from Shelley and saddened by his earthly life ending so suddenly. We are never prepared to lose our loved ones and certainly not in the prime of life.
The first memory that came to mind after I talked with Shelley was that of you and Mike making that trip to South Dakota with me to watch that silly football game. It was a fun adventure, staying in Sioux City and heading on over the next day for the game. I don't even remember if we won or not! It was a good time.
Mike was your boyfriend but he was kind of like a brother to the rest of us. He handled it pretty well being the guy with all that bunch of women hanging around.
You two were such a novelty- living the dream for the rest of us single girls - you got married, got to live in student housing and go to school. Boy that sure seems like a long time ago now.
Eventhough much time has passed, you have been so good about staying in touch and keeping the rest of us updated. I can't say that I have done such a good job.
It is times like these that we are all brought back together emotionally and
suddenly those years at UNI don't really seem that long ago. It is also times like these that we pause and think about how important it is to keep all those connections and make an effort to get together face to face. Perhaps we could spend another weekend in your parent's camper- another great memory.
I am not going to be able to attend Mike's services, but I wanted to let you know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Mike is resting comfortably in the caring hands of the Lord as you celebrate all the contributions he made during his life.
I will prayer that you are comforted in God's care.
Julie Price Barnd
Kate Gilmore
05/12/2009
Dear Angela and family,
I am very sorry to hear the news about Mike's death. I served on the Suicicde Prevention Coalition with him the last several years.
My heart goes out to you. I will remember your family in my prayers. As you know, he was a decent and kind and caring man.
Sincerely,
Kate Gilmore
Polk Co. Crisis and Advocacy
Chris Frantsvog
05/12/2009
My deepest sympathies to you all at Mike's death. Mike was such an important and willing participant on the Polk County Suicide Prevention Coalition, and we all will miss him dearly--his wit, his insights, and his help on so many projects. With love and sorrow,
Chris Frantsvog
Polk County Health Department
Polk County Suicide Prevention Coalition