In Memory Of
Joseph Michael Johnson
1955
2016
Joseph Michael Johnson
January 16, 1955 — March 9, 2016
Joseph Michael Johnson, 61, of Lawrence, passed away March 9, 2016. He was born in Kansas City, MO. January 16, 1955, to Gerald "Jerry" and Margaret "Peggy" Johnson. He was blessed with two wonderful ladies in his life: first with his daughter Anneka Holly Preston, born in Hailey, Idaho in 1987 and he married Debora (Deb) King (formerly of Houston) on December 31, 2003 in Lawrence, KS.
Joe attended Most Pure Heart of Mary Grade School and Hayden High School in Topeka where he was active as an altar boy, in sports (football, basketball, track), in student government at Hayden, in theater at Hayden where he stared in the lead role of "Og the Leprechaun" in his Senior production "Finian's Rainbow". He is well known in Lawrence for 15 years as Victor Continental's Bodyguard in the Victor Continental Show. Joe was active in scouting and achieved the rank of Eagle in Most Pure Heart's Boy Scout Troop 46. For his Eagle project Joe helped construct an adobe house in Mexico where he made the bricks with mud and straw. Joe formed life-long bonding friendships in the Boy Scouts.
After high school, Joe attended Cowley County Community Junior College where he played football, he attended Pittsburg State University and later the University of Kansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts. (Joe gave copies of his BA diploma from KU to family and friends for Christmas presents).
Joe's adventurous spirit carried over from Boy Scouts to the work world. He had numerous jobs through his life: Robo Car Wash, 7-Eleven convenience store, Bankers Dispatch, driving an ice cream truck, as a store manager at Fun & Games Toy Store in Lawrence, the Meat & Seafood Manager at the Community Mercantile Grocery Store, as a groundskeeper at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, and as in housing maintenance at the University of Kansas.
He was the cofounder of Alaska Sea Food Company which was the first seafood company to overnight fresh off the boat fish to Kansas and Missouri. At ASFC he claimed partial credit for the Kansas City Royals World Series Championship in 1985 when the Royals called Joe in a last minute panic and Joe delivered King Salmon for 400 members of the Royals Lancers Club.
Joe spent over 19 years as a commercial fisherman through 1995. He had numerous jobs from deckhand to being Captain of the Libby Seven. Most of his time in Alaska he served as the deck boss on the Osprey. He was well liked as the cook on several ships (notably the Yukon Queen). As a Kansan he played a role as an interstate ambassador for Kansan's to venture to Alaska and visa versa.
Joe is survived by Deb his wife of Lawrence, daughter Anneka of Sunnyside, NY, his sister Jeanne (John) Myers of Topeka, KS, his brothers Jerome (Jennifer) Johnson of Grandview, MO, John Johnson of Kansas City, KS, Jeff (Debbi) Johnson of Overland Park, and Jim (Janice) Johnson of Topeka. He was also survived by and known as the "favorite" uncle of Kevin Ray, Joan Margaret, John Patrick, Justin Mathias, Jacob Steven, Julie Maleta, Caleb Wyatt, Benjamin Cody, Jaimie Nicole, Jeana Marie, Adam Christopher Lee, Katie Ann (goddaughter), Shannon Jeannine, Regan Elizabeth, and Emma Rene.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Jerry Johnson, his twin brothers Peter and Patrick (who died shortly after birth), his adopted special needs nephew Steve Fullen and his adopted special needs niece Jennifer Clapsaddle.
Joe recently lost his (dog) buddy "Nine" and leaves behind "Sophie".
Known lovingly as "Big Joe", he always had a minute and truly enjoyed anyone he met. Joe lived life to its fullest, loved fun and games, had a song for every situation, danced and joked his way into everyone's heart. He was known for never showing up on time because he was always having too much fun where he was at in that moment. Joe was everyone's best friend and was loved by so many because he genuinely wanted to share his big heart with the world. His loss is felt by his beloved family, friends and the last person he was chatting with at the grocery store.
A Funeral Mass for Joe will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 17th and Stone in Topeka, immediately followed by a luncheon at O'Connor Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Boy Scout Troop 46 to support Eagle Project development.
To share a memory of Joe or to leave a special message of condolence, please visit the guestbook below.
Joe attended Most Pure Heart of Mary Grade School and Hayden High School in Topeka where he was active as an altar boy, in sports (football, basketball, track), in student government at Hayden, in theater at Hayden where he stared in the lead role of "Og the Leprechaun" in his Senior production "Finian's Rainbow". He is well known in Lawrence for 15 years as Victor Continental's Bodyguard in the Victor Continental Show. Joe was active in scouting and achieved the rank of Eagle in Most Pure Heart's Boy Scout Troop 46. For his Eagle project Joe helped construct an adobe house in Mexico where he made the bricks with mud and straw. Joe formed life-long bonding friendships in the Boy Scouts.
After high school, Joe attended Cowley County Community Junior College where he played football, he attended Pittsburg State University and later the University of Kansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts. (Joe gave copies of his BA diploma from KU to family and friends for Christmas presents).
Joe's adventurous spirit carried over from Boy Scouts to the work world. He had numerous jobs through his life: Robo Car Wash, 7-Eleven convenience store, Bankers Dispatch, driving an ice cream truck, as a store manager at Fun & Games Toy Store in Lawrence, the Meat & Seafood Manager at the Community Mercantile Grocery Store, as a groundskeeper at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, and as in housing maintenance at the University of Kansas.
He was the cofounder of Alaska Sea Food Company which was the first seafood company to overnight fresh off the boat fish to Kansas and Missouri. At ASFC he claimed partial credit for the Kansas City Royals World Series Championship in 1985 when the Royals called Joe in a last minute panic and Joe delivered King Salmon for 400 members of the Royals Lancers Club.
Joe spent over 19 years as a commercial fisherman through 1995. He had numerous jobs from deckhand to being Captain of the Libby Seven. Most of his time in Alaska he served as the deck boss on the Osprey. He was well liked as the cook on several ships (notably the Yukon Queen). As a Kansan he played a role as an interstate ambassador for Kansan's to venture to Alaska and visa versa.
Joe is survived by Deb his wife of Lawrence, daughter Anneka of Sunnyside, NY, his sister Jeanne (John) Myers of Topeka, KS, his brothers Jerome (Jennifer) Johnson of Grandview, MO, John Johnson of Kansas City, KS, Jeff (Debbi) Johnson of Overland Park, and Jim (Janice) Johnson of Topeka. He was also survived by and known as the "favorite" uncle of Kevin Ray, Joan Margaret, John Patrick, Justin Mathias, Jacob Steven, Julie Maleta, Caleb Wyatt, Benjamin Cody, Jaimie Nicole, Jeana Marie, Adam Christopher Lee, Katie Ann (goddaughter), Shannon Jeannine, Regan Elizabeth, and Emma Rene.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Jerry Johnson, his twin brothers Peter and Patrick (who died shortly after birth), his adopted special needs nephew Steve Fullen and his adopted special needs niece Jennifer Clapsaddle.
Joe recently lost his (dog) buddy "Nine" and leaves behind "Sophie".
Known lovingly as "Big Joe", he always had a minute and truly enjoyed anyone he met. Joe lived life to its fullest, loved fun and games, had a song for every situation, danced and joked his way into everyone's heart. He was known for never showing up on time because he was always having too much fun where he was at in that moment. Joe was everyone's best friend and was loved by so many because he genuinely wanted to share his big heart with the world. His loss is felt by his beloved family, friends and the last person he was chatting with at the grocery store.
A Funeral Mass for Joe will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 17th and Stone in Topeka, immediately followed by a luncheon at O'Connor Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Boy Scout Troop 46 to support Eagle Project development.
To share a memory of Joe or to leave a special message of condolence, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Michael Johnson, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
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Service
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Starts at 1:00 pm (Central time)
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