David Earl Johnson was born July 7th, 1967, in Oakland, Nebraska to Robert and Karen Johnson. He would be joining an older sister, Nancy, and later become a big brother to little sister, Laura. Their only son, he kept Robert and Karen on their toes. It was apparent at a very young age that his adventurous and ornery personality would produce the next, much too short, 55 years of the most incredible life.
David attended a one room schoolhouse, K-6th grade and graduated from Logan View in 1985. With all his shenanigans while growing up on their family farm, his skills would be useful while attending the University of Nebraska – Lincoln to study civil engineering. This journey would be interrupted in 1988 by joining the Army as a PFC-E3 and again in 1990 being deployed with the 217 Evacuation Hospital to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Storm. During this chapter, many lifelong friendships were made, countless memories, and a young man of great faith, integrity, and morals was emerging. With that incredible backbone, the Dave we know and will forever love, then continued to capture our hearts with his love of life, humor, and crazy antics, like his famous yellow pants.
Never one to let grass grow beneath his feet, Dave and his buddies were always up for a good time. During such an outing, he would meet the love of his life, Kelli, although he didn’t know it quite as soon as she did. This next chapter would include our marriage in 1998 and a move to Sioux City. An opportunity arose to take a position with the USPHS and on February 25, 1999, after asking his bride if she was ready to take on this challenge, our almost 25-year adventure would begin. Moves to Tucson, AZ, Oceanside, CA, and Folsom, CA occurred before coming full circle. In 2008, Sioux City would become the place where Capt. David E. Johnson, P.E. would become the District Engineer with the Great Plains Area Indian Health Service. He was absolutely honored to serve this community and the office became a family. Undoubtedly, this chapter would be our greatest accomplishment, welcoming a beautiful baby girl, Rylee Jean, now 19, who shares his love of gardening and a handsome baby boy, Brady Earl, now 18, who is a beautiful blend of our union and wildly funny just like his dad. While being a loving husband and new dad, he also earned his master’s degree through the University of New Mexico.
Our next chapter would combine his love of nature, friends, food, fishing, golfing and his instilled family value of hard work. We decided to buy dirt, then an alfalfa field not only became our home, but a place where all were to gather with an abundance of love. He was our rock, the best dad, my soulmate, steadfast friend to so many, loving son and brother, cool uncle, nephew, and dedicated coworker.
On February 25th, 2023, God called Dave to another chapter, an everlasting life in Heaven until we can all meet again. While we may never truly understand this, we do know that he will continue to watch over us, while catching the biggest fish and telling the biggest stories. He will be greatly missed and has left an indelible mark on all our hearts.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Johnson of Oakland and his father-in-law, Harlan Hailey of Lincoln.
He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 25 years, Kelli of Sioux City, IA, two children, Rylee Johnson and Brady Johnson, his mother Karen Johnson of Oakland, sisters, Nancy (Greg) Johnson of Oakland, and Laura Egbers of Fremont, and his brother-in-law, Douglas (Bridget) Hailey of Papillion and his mother-in-law Dee Hailey of Lincoln and many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Memorial Service will be Saturday, March 4, 2023, 10:00 am at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland, NE. Interment with Military Honors at the Oakland Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the family for future designation.