Obituary of Robert Gregory Johnston

Robert Gregory Johnston, was known as Greg to family and friends, left this world at 63 years old unexpectedly on February 14, 2023. He was born to Robert (Bob) and Marilyn Johnston May 1st, 1959 in Pasadena, CA and moved with his family to Minnesota in elementary school. Greg graduated from Starbuck HS in 1978. He had chosen to begin a career in the Navy where he took several courses to try to figure out where he fit in best. He took electrician courses, cold weather environmental survival training, naval aviation water survival training, he was a diving instructor and  a hospital corpsman through the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He used this degree to further his career as and joined a Navy Seal Team as their Medic. Greg traveled around the world during many missions in desert storm in the Gulf War. He was on the USS San Diego AFS-6 and jumped out of many helicopters and aircrafts. Greg was blessed with a daughter Tasha Mossey in 1985 while in the Navy.

He was blessed again in 1997 by the birth of his daughter Caitlyn Johnston after leaving the Navy. Greg worked at Pediatric Surgical Associates as a surgery scheduler and had lots of contact with the schedulers at Allina Coon Rapids Pediatrics. He asked them if anyone at Allina was available for companionship. Greg and Stacey were set up for a blind date. On June 2, 2001, he was united in marriage to Stacey (Henrikson) Giem and joined a blended family with Stacey’s daughters Taylor and Christina. Greg loved the country so we moved further North every couple of years. We stayed in Princeton the longest as a family. The last 10 years we lived on 40 acres in Milaca, MN.

Greg went to paramedic school and enjoyed working with a great team at Fairview Princeton ER. He retired early during covid due to some health issues but stayed close with his friends. He loved his sushi lunch dates,  Bingo nights and participated in work lottery tickets. He enjoyed several trips with disabled veterans and discount Twins tickets. He went on a feral hog hunt in Texas with Starbuck friends and his good friend Mark. Greg loved to lend a helping hand and support his community of Milaca. He would choose to shop at the small businesses, made friends wherever he went, chopped wood for neighbors, pulled anyone out the ditch with his various trucks he  had, plowed driveways with his tractor when he could and offered his big heart and a listening ear whenever needed.

His passions included being active at Restoration Church in Anoka, hunting, everything to do with guns, softball, boating, showing up at Bob-FM live events, cooking and loving on friends and family.

Greg is survived by his wife: Stacey Johnston; four daughters Tasha Mossey, Christina (David) Bittick, Taylor Giem, Caitlyn (Marcus) Johnston; five grandchildren Savannah, William, Peyton, Isabel, Caleb; two sisters Heather Johnston, Bonnie Johnston; one brother Todd (Dawn) Johnston; six cousins; Preceded in death by his parents; one Uncle Dick; one cousin Kelly Johnston.

Celebration of Life will be at Restoration Church in Anoka on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 10am with refreshments to follow and everyone is welcome to join us at Pizza Ranch in Andover at 11:30am.  There will also be a Fort Snelling Honory Service at 1:30pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Disabled American Veterans would be greatly appreciated.