Obituary of David Edward Johnson

David (Dave aka Pepa) Johnson of Grant, MN left us on January 22, 2023 after a two year battle with seizures. A Celebration of Life will be held in true Dave form on Sunday, February 19, 2023 from 1-3 pm at the 3rd Street Post; 103rd St S, Stillwater, MN 55082. Come raise a beer (don’t forget your can cooler, Dave never did), share your memories, enjoy great company and celebrate the memory of Dave.

Dave was the middle sibling of 7 children growing up in White Bear Lake, MN. He couldn’t wait to come into this world, he was in such a hurry that he was born on a bridge in St. Paul, MN on their way to the hospital. A story that his mother carried the details with her to the end. Dave carried his momentum through life, being active in sports, enjoying baseball, football, hockey, gymnastics, scuba diving, hunting, downhill skiing, water skiing, on a day he was feeling adventurous he might even drop his skis and barefoot (although he would admit that his brother was better at that). If you asked him about his days in sports, he would tell you he played but not well, he was always modest about his skills. He carried his talents that he learned in gymnastics into his early 60’s. He loved to show off that he could still lift himself into a fingertip L-sit progressing into a handstand, or on a windy day lift himself into a flag position on a pole. His gymnastics skills and strength helped him to enjoy a successful career as a journeyman carpenter.

If you had a chance to get to know Dave, over a Busch beer, he would recall that every Saturday morning he would spend with his dad and brother cleaning out the garage. He would chat about summer road trips spent traveling all around the country with his mom and siblings; being met up with by his dad when they were lucky. He would talk about his hunting trips out west or fishing at Winnibigosh with his dad and brother Scott. If you spent any time at his house you might even come across some of his buckskins or antelope hats that he had tanned himself. In junior high school he would meet the love of his life, Debbie Larson but they wouldn’t seriously date until after graduating high school. Reconnecting at a party through friends. They dated for several years continuing their schooling and beginning their careers. They then wanted to get married and start a family. Dave and Debbie had been married for almost 44 years. During which time they had two beautiful children, the first of which, Jere, was born on Dave’s 25th birthday (an amazing birthday present); the second, Jeni, also shared a familial birthday with Dave’s oldest sister (again an amazing present).

Dave was a curious learner and loved to do things that kept him active, as well as anything where he could work with his hands. After graduating from White Bear Lake high school he spent some time at Lakewood and vocational school at 916 in White Bear Lake. Being a true jack of all trades, he worked in a garage as a mechanic and auto body tech, took scuba instructions and did recreational scuba diving and would ultimately become a journeyman carpenter. In the 80’s he owned his own construction company, DJ Construction. After the housing crash in the 80’s he would spend almost 20 years working for the Public Works department with the City of White Bear Lake (where he enjoyed driving big vehicles, every little boy’s dream!), after which he would return to being a carpenter and retired from the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

He would use his construction talents to build the home that he and Debbie would raise their kids in Grant Township. He had a dream to spread out, live on land and enjoy life; coining their property as “Armageddon Acres.” If Debbie would ask him to build something, she would blink and the project would start. A house, decks, tree forts, the “giraffe” barn for his daughter’s horses, the list goes on. Summers were spent at family cabins teaching the kids how to fish, waterski, working on his mom’s honey do list (because Grandpa had his own list), mowing his 10 acres, tinkering on tractors, building, enjoying fly-ins and over-the-top bonfires. Dave also had a fondness for storms. He would sit in his garage, with a beer, and watch the storms roll in. Which would lead to his skill for water management. As the water came surging down the driveway, he would dig trenches through the dirt and rock of the

gravel pit the home was built on. Winters, when he wasn’t plowing the streets of WBL, were spent building epic snow animals on the front lawn.

Dave was a family man, he LOVED his family! At the end he told Jeni that, “Debbie was the love of his life, that she was his rock, that she brought him joy and comfort whenever he heard her voice.” His children and grandchildren were the twinkle in his eyes. When he would see them he would flash a huge smile and his signature blue eyes would sparkle. His son, Jeremiah, would fondly recall stories that, as a small child, if he was really quiet in the morning and could sneak his sister out of her crib (so she was quiet too) Dave would sleep-in and decide that he could miss work and stay at home with them. This, fortunately for them, was while he was self-employed so he had that freedom to stay home with them. Jere’s favorite memories were being introduced to Doctor Who, Star Wars and late nights on the couch watching Johnny Carson. Also the great time Dave had when Jere gave him the present of a suite at the Twins game for his 60th birthday. A good time was had by all! His daughter, Jeni Cleveland, has many memories of weekends working on building projects or helping to bleed the breaks on the car. Her favorite memory was the summer Dave assisted with base coaching her 4th grade softball team, always putting the kids in a pickle but he had so much fun on the field. Sunday’s were for Vikings football games or NASCAR races. When son-in-law Casey started coming over; Sundays were his favorite day he would ask Dave, “What are we BBQing today?” Dave loved being a grandpa, being fondly coined as “Pepa” by his oldest granddaughter. Having the joy in spoiling them in his own way, even buying Austyn a Lightning McQueen Power Wheel one Father’s Day! He loved to get down on his hands and knees, to play with them, bulldozing them over with his head.

Every day was a gift with Dave, we had good times and bad, happy and sad. I married my best friend, my confidant, my sounding board, my rock. Of course we would have our quarrels, to clear the air, however they were always short lived and usually ended with a “FINE” or “I love you.” Dave was the love of my life. We shared similar interests. Dave loved life and people. He had a short temper but was also just as quick with a hug or a smile. Dave could not tell a joke to save his soul, but that never stopped him from trying. He loved to entertain, preferring to host, so he could enjoy his beer at home. He will be in my heart forever. I am so lucky to have loved him and to be loved by him… he is already missed, now and forever. “I love you, me :)”

He was greeted in death by his parents, Edward and Barbara Johnson; in-laws, George and Nancy Larson. He is survived by his beloved wife Debbie (Larson) Johnson; son, Jeremiah (Jennifer) Johnson; daughter, Jeni (Casey) Cleveland; grandchildren, Austyn, Grant, Charlotte and Daniel; siblings, Shelley (Ron) Fox; Debbie (Louie) Bohlig; Scott Johnson; Blaine (John Vey) Johnson; Renee (Bill) Seiler; Heather Milton; a large extended family, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.