MEMORIES FROM JIM JOHNSON, SON

 

One always wonders what to say at a moment like this?  Memories of my father are varied.  There is a phrase I remember Dad telling me, and that has come back either to haunt me or to guide me for many years.   It was if you do not have time to do it right the first time, what makes you think you are going to have time to do it again. 

 

Dad wanted to do things right the first time.   He was a businessman in every since of the word.   I remember that when the phone rang he could spring to his feet in an instant.  He did not want to let that phone ring too many times before answering.   With a firmness of professionalism he would answer GARY JOHNSON!   After you could tell what kind of person was on the other end.   Or, the entire body could relax and he would give an enthusiastic HOWD DO   or it could jerk into an even more tense posture and you could hear him say.   What can I do for you?  NO SIR, YOU DO NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THAT COMPANY.  THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT I CAN RECOMMEND SUCH.   …

 

There was a time during tax season that dad had an 800 number hooked to the house for after hours.   This phone also had to be answered prior to the second ring, at least according to dad, even though dad did not always make it down stairs that fast.  He certainly tried.  The phone would ring and he would spring to his feet, dinner fork in hand or whatever.   Knees would fly as he raced down the stairs, -- the dog thought it was a game and tried to beat him.   The dog usually caught up at the center landing and dad and so the scenario went like this January through April.   RING  bong bong bong, yip yip DORG!   Bong bong bong bong,  RING -- GARY JOHNSON 

 

Dad was meticulous.  He set his watch for checking blood sugar, but was always checking it 3 seconds prior to the alarm going off.  The pulling of the weights in the grandfather clock was as meticulously timed as the clock itself.   There was never a rounding of numbers on time, he worked to the second.   And the words are you done in the kitchen or are you done in the basement really meant, are you remembering to turn off the light.  

 

I remember him teaching me driving maneuvers and he would check the bumper alignment with a plumb line to the parking line marked.   He parked and ran the plumb line to prove it could be done consistently and then it was my turn.   He was not quite so meticulous, however in keeping the speedometer on the double nickel.    And sometimes you could guess just how far off he was by watching mom glance over at it and then seeing her facial reaction.   I think she decided that for the most part it was best not to look.

 

Dad knew Jesus.   Jesus not only saved dad for all eternity, but transformed his life.   The dad some of you knew in recent years was spiritually not the same dad I knew as a kid.  But dad yielded and God changed him.   That is my Lord’s business, saving and changing.  And we need to take every opportunity to share God’s saving grace, and let Him change us.   Do it right the first time, what makes you think you will have time to do it again.  Dad wants everybody seated here to reflect on that.  Pastor Black is going to give us the Gospel Message.  Get things right between you and your creator today; you do not know if you will have opportunity to think about it again.   Any one of us can go just as suddenly as Dad did.  And if you are sure about your eternity, we still have some growing to do, yield and get things right this time, what makes you think you will have opportunity to yield again. 

 

There are only two people that I can remember who ever called me J.B.   Dad always called me J.B. as did Dad’s good friend Ron Lawson, who knew me best as Gary’s son.   It hit me just the other day.   I’ll never more call and hear that enthusiastic voice say Judy, J.B. is on the line.  In fact, I may never be called J.B. again. 

 

That is until Jesus calls me, Dad won’t be a millisecond late.  He’ll run down that golden staircase – heaven is without Spot, so I might not hear DARG, but he will firmly say J.B. is here.

 

 

MEMORIES FROM ANNA JOHNSON, GRANDDAUGHTER

 

Anna was not able to make it to the funeral as her family lives in Brazil as missionaries.  Only Jim, her father, was able to make it to the funeral.

 

From Anna: “Granddad”....he always asked to be called that instead of the usual "Grandpa", as a child I never understood that because that meant putting white out over all the cards we bought and writing "Granddad" over it. I soon learned though that the name he wanted to be called didn’t really matter as much as the person he himself was...
Though I didn’t get to see Granddad as often as most people I have many memories... From chasing bubbles as a child, and playing with that noisy barnyard set. Trying to learn to ride the unicycle and watching him try to hide Christmas presents from grandma...

Ill be honest sometimes he scared me; he was open and honest and spoke his mind clearly. He liked studying theology and talking bout it with me even though I knew so little! I remember going to the mall to go walking with him in the morning... He knew almost everyone! Calvin and I would run to keep up with his fast pace and somehow we still would lag behind! He never really liked waiting for us, (or anyone to be honest) but he was patient enough to take us the next day knowing the same thing would happen again.

On a scrap piece of paper I found some scribbled words that I wrote through the tears when I heard Granddad had passed away. It says: "Granddad + God = Me being ok"
Though it really hurts to have him gone, and to think back and know that the last time I said goodbye I said it expecting to see him again, I still know I will. I'll miss his many phone calls and e-mails, but I don’t have to enter in turmoil because he is in a better place spending Christmas with Jesus. I know it’s the best Christmas he has ever had!

"Granddad"

G- godly example he laid for all
R- rarely thinking of self above others did he
A- a man who loved studying God's word for his call
N- no words can explain the love left in his memories
D- dozen's of models lined Granddaddy's walls
D- dedicated to Family, work, church and God
A- "amigo" a friend, trustworthy and a good groom
D- death can never detach the memories that will live on.

 

Calvin (Anna’s brother) says.  My sister said it well, and I would like to sign my name to that as well. 

 

Lydia (Jim’s wife, -Gary’s daughter-in-law) says

 

She loved dad like her own father, but just is not the one to write something in words.

Certainly we can identify,  ….

 

MEMORIES FROM LISA JOHNSON, DAUGHTER

 

When I was young, dad worked a lot of hours.  And he also taught me the value of working hard and doing a good job.  He also taught me how to answer the 1-800 tax phone line that was active in our house from Jan to April every year.

 

He taught me all about finances.  I think frugality is in my blood.  I am not positive, but I think that my husband appreciates the “frugal” DNA that was passed down to me J  And, I will actually admit, that I do shop at Walmart….And, as a side note, I do NOT drink coffee!!—that piece of DNA is definitely missing.

 

Going shopping with dad was always an adventure.  He didn’t do it often; usually only for mom’s birthday and Christmas gifts.  I remember one time when he was buying her a board game.  He always went top of the line—no cardboard boxes for him…he got the leather bound kind.  Then, he very nonchalantly pointed out the tiniest of nicks in the leather, and was immediately offered a large discount.  Sometimes, I think he was a magnet for great deals!

 

Then, there was the wrapping of the gifts.  Dad didn’t “do” wrapping.  He called Jim and I into a bedroom, closed the door, and said “start wrapping—this paper goes on that gift”, etc.  So, while Jim and I did our best to make the packages look nice, dad spent the whole time coming up with creative tags to put on them.

 

Dad “made” me take Driver’s Ed, so that I could get my license as soon as I turned 16.  And, of course, dad had to take his turn at teaching me as well.  There were some tears, but definite memory making times, while I was behind that wheel!  And, dad took me when it came time to buy my own car, too.  About all I knew was what color it was.  Dad listened to the engine and all that sort of thing, and found me—you guessed it—a great deal!

 

I love dad and will miss him.  The older I got, and the older my kids got, the more I learned to appreciate him.  But for the last couple/several years, he has not been well.  And now, he is no longer in pain, he is no longer diabetic, his hip is not broken, and he is with his Lord.  I could not wish to bring him back from that.

 

Thank you.

 

MEMORIES FROM Dante Antonucci, Son in Law

 

            Hi, my name is Dante Antonucci.  I am the son-in-law of Gary Johnson.

            My 1st memory of my Father-in-law was when I had to call him to ask his permission to date his daughter a 2nd time.  I thought: this is different, but he must really care about his daughter and want to ensure she is dating the right kind of guy….why he had to talk to me, I dunno know!  The nature of his questions had to do with what I was studying in school, my family background, my plans for the future, how I was going to get myself through school, etc.  45 minutes later, when Lisa finally got through to him to find out the result, she asked him, “What took you so long?”  He told her, “it takes longer to say “no” than to say ‘yes.’”  He did tell her yes.

            Another memory of my Father-in-law was when I asked him about 12-18 months later if I could marry his daughter.  He asked about school, my plans for the future, paying for school, finishing school, and what I was going to do to support myself after school.  He did not say yes, but he did not say no.  About 9 months later, I asked him again.  He asked about school, my plans for the future, paying for school, finishing school, and what I was going to do to support myself after school.  He did not say yes, but he did not say no.  About 6 months later, I asked him again.  He asked about school, my plans for the future, paying for school, finishing school, and what I was going to do to support myself after school.  This time he said yes…. And conveniently over the Thanksgiving break of our senior year in college, he left the house.  Then I had to get his daughter to say “yes.”

            I also remember dad being well principled in the biblical application of handling finances.  He did well to provide for the current needs of his family and was wise enough to look to the future.  He was always willing to lend some counsel or advice in this area. 

I remember that after Lisa and I were married, that though he was not able to come out to Colorado when the kids were born, he was always willing to let mom come and help.  We sure appreciated him for this.  I do remember the 1st time he was able to come out… after the twins were born: I was putting in a sidewalk on the side of the house… and he helped.  I was actually surprised, but also grateful.  He was not a young man at that point.  It was from this time forward, every other year that dad and mom would come out and visit us on July 4th.  When we moved to Arizona, 4 years ago, he said he was not coming to visit us anymore…  in July!  He would say, “Why would anyone want to move to Arizona?”  I personally never understood the question: I thought, why would anyone ever move to Chicago?  Arizona has 4-5 months of miserable weather and Chicago has 8-9.  It is either sticky hot during the summer or bitterly cold during the winter.  But when dad thought he was right, you were not going to convince him otherwise.

            Dad was not always easy to talk to:  After all you could not buy a foreign car or anything foreign for that matter!!  What an irony that the first 1000 piece toy set for our youngest son…was made in China!  Regarding discussing the Word of God: If he was taught it a specific way, and it did not fall into the parameters of what he was taught, the conversation was pretty much done.  I thought at one point: I do not think I will ever be able to teach him anything.  And then, about 10 years ago, he changed.  We began talking about the Doctrines of Grace…and he listened…, and he asked questions…, and he conversed…, and he meditated…, and mom told him I was right…, and then he agreed!!  So it really was not me after all, it was mom!

            In the last few years, it was a privilege to have dad lead in family devotions with my children.  He brought several thoughts on teens making preparation for marriage.  He asked them all kinds of questions about the kind of spouse that the Lord would have for them.  He gave an assignment to them to make a list of important godly principles that should be in the lives of that prospective marriage partner.  I believe for our boys, he wanted them to have someone as special as his wife!  And he taught them: if they were to have someone special like grandma, they needed to possess the right kind of godly characteristics.  For our daughter, I am sure he wanted her to be like grandma! And that she too would have to live the right kind of life, if she was going to have a good husband.

            In recent years, dad and mom have made it a point to call us each week.  I have often thought what a blessing to be able to speak them as much as we have.  Though we will not be able to talk to dad each week, or even communicate daily through Instant Messenger, we know he is the place we all desire to be.  He is with Jesus.

            Dad, we salute you.  Not because of what you made yourself, but because of what Jesus made you…and we thank you for every godly principle and memory you have left behind for us!