In loving memory of
James Johnson
September 19, 1937 - November 24, 2017
Colonel James D. (Don) Johnson, USAF retired, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 in his home in Greeley. Don was born November 19, 1937 to J. Herbert and Eva (Ecklund) Johnson in Greeley, Colorado. He graduated from Greeley High School in 1955, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Degree from Colorado State University in June 1959. There, he met and later married his wife of 43 years, Barbara Coffey (deceased, 2001) on June 6, 1958. He served in the Air Force for 30 years and then returned to his roots on the family farm in Greeley for the last 27 years until his passing. In his later years, he shared his life with his close friend Wanda Anderson, her sons Steve, Jeff and John, and their families.
Commissioned on June 5, 1959, through the Reserve Officers Training Corps, Colonel Johnson entered the Air Force on active duty January 31, 1960. After completing pilot training in Texas, he piloted over 5700 hours on the KC-135 (Aerial Refueling Tanker), EC-135 (Looking Glass), RC-135 (Reconnaissance), and WC-135 (Weather Reconnaissance). His primary duty stations included Offutt AFB Nebraska, Pease AFB New Hampshire, McClellan AFB California, Scott AFB Illinois, and Travis AFB, California. He completed a combat tour of duty in Vietnam and Thailand in 1970 piloting the AC-119K gunship where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Additionally, he completed numerous aerial refueling deployments to the western Pacific throughout the Vietnam War. His career included two command tours, as the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Commander at McClellan AFB and as Chief of Supply at Travis AFB from which he retired on January 31, 1990.
After retirement, Don stayed active on the farm and enjoyed reading, CSU Rams football, attending performances by the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and theater productions at the Civic Center. He was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Greeley, the Swedish Heritage of Northern Colorado, and the Order of Daedalians. He especially loved the Berean Sunday School group that met at Bethel.
He is survived by his sons Kenneth W. (Eva) Johnson and Douglas A. Johnson; daughter Kathryn J. (Bruce) Muller; brother, Dean A.(LaVonne) Johnson; grandchildren, Griffin and Gregor Johnson, Sydney Johnson, and Kristianna, Kylie and Alexandra Muller. He is preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Barbara Johnson.
A memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church at 1pm on December 29th, 2017, with inurnment following at Linn Grove Cemetery.
Commissioned on June 5, 1959, through the Reserve Officers Training Corps, Colonel Johnson entered the Air Force on active duty January 31, 1960. After completing pilot training in Texas, he piloted over 5700 hours on the KC-135 (Aerial Refueling Tanker), EC-135 (Looking Glass), RC-135 (Reconnaissance), and WC-135 (Weather Reconnaissance). His primary duty stations included Offutt AFB Nebraska, Pease AFB New Hampshire, McClellan AFB California, Scott AFB Illinois, and Travis AFB, California. He completed a combat tour of duty in Vietnam and Thailand in 1970 piloting the AC-119K gunship where he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross. Additionally, he completed numerous aerial refueling deployments to the western Pacific throughout the Vietnam War. His career included two command tours, as the 55th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Commander at McClellan AFB and as Chief of Supply at Travis AFB from which he retired on January 31, 1990.
After retirement, Don stayed active on the farm and enjoyed reading, CSU Rams football, attending performances by the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and theater productions at the Civic Center. He was an active member of Bethel Baptist Church in Greeley, the Swedish Heritage of Northern Colorado, and the Order of Daedalians. He especially loved the Berean Sunday School group that met at Bethel.
He is survived by his sons Kenneth W. (Eva) Johnson and Douglas A. Johnson; daughter Kathryn J. (Bruce) Muller; brother, Dean A.(LaVonne) Johnson; grandchildren, Griffin and Gregor Johnson, Sydney Johnson, and Kristianna, Kylie and Alexandra Muller. He is preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Barbara Johnson.
A memorial service will be held at Bethel Baptist Church at 1pm on December 29th, 2017, with inurnment following at Linn Grove Cemetery.
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