Gary D. Johnson

ROCKFORD – Gary D. Johnson, 82, of Rockford, formerly of Chadwick, passed away on Friday, July 26, 2019 at Swedish American Hospital.

Gary was born in Aurora, IL on November 7, 1936, the son of Aldee M. and Engre M. (Okland) Johnson. Gary was baptized at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aurora in 1937, and confirmed at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Aurora in 1951. He was a graduate of Yorkville High School, Class of 1954. He received both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in education from Northern Illinois University. He married Arlene Seegers on May 13, 1959, at Zion Lutheran Church in Marengo. Gary coached and taught in Odell, Reddick, Geneva, Sandwich and Loves Park. He was the principal at Leaf River High School, Chadwick Junior High School and Galena Primary School, all in Northern Illinois. He also taught various Dale Carnige courses at Northern Illinois.

Gary was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sterling, where he served on many boards and as congregation chairman. He also was a board member and treasurer of Timber Lake Playhouse. He served as officer of local unit and on regional and state committees for Illinois Retired Teachers, and was a CGH volunteer in Sterling and Carroll County Senior Services for many years following retirement, including 5 years as a Barnabas chaplain assistant. Gary was named an IRTA Unit Honoree in 2013 and was a Timber Lake Playhouse Hall of Fame inductee in 2018.

Gary enjoyed retirement years of traveling throughout the United States. One highlight was traveling to Norway and finding the “home farm” of his mother’s family near Tromso. Another highlight was a trip to the northeast where he was finally able to view a high tide coming into the Bay of Funday. He enjoyed fishing with his grandsons. Attending his grandchildren’s events always were important and he never missed one of their theatrical appearances. The birth of a great-granddaughter, Helen Harper, in December 2018 was the best Christmas present ever. Gary and Arlene were honored by a 60th wedding anniversary on June 29, at the family destination of White Pines State Park and having the whole family there was very special.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene; sons, Brian Keith of San Diego, Eric Alan (Christine Schweizer) Johnson of Kingston, IL, and Kevin C. (Tanya Steffa) Johnson of Fennimore, WI; daughter, Karla M. (Tim) Dorgan; grandchildren, Richelle (P.J.) Mahaffey, Ryan Johnson, Kale Johnson, Gwen Johnson, and Danya Dorgan; and great-grandchild, Helen Mahaffey.

He was predeceased by his parents; brother, Alduayne M. Johnson, 2017; and grandson, Shane T. Dorgan, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2019, at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1601 Avenue F, Sterling, IL. Visitation will be from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Memorials may be made to Cor Cantiamo, PO Box 1005, DeKalb, IL 60115, www.corcantiamo.org; the Illinois Retired Teachers Foundation, 828 S. 2nd Street, Springfield, IL; Messiah Lutheran Church; Starlight Theater, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford; St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4881 Kilburn Ave., Rockford; or Timber Lake Playhouse, 8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll, IL.

To share a memory or condolence, visit olsonfh.com.