david k. johnson
Loving and devoted husband, father, and friend, David K. Johnson, age 64 of San Marcos, passed away October 2, 2024, surrounded by his family at UCSD Hospital in San Diego after a three year struggle with ALS.
Dave was born September 30, 1960, in Victoria, Texas, to David Almon Johnson and Janet Hofhines Johnson. Dave first developed his emphatic love of ice cream from a young age as he rode his bike around the ice cream factory where his father worked repairing refrigeration units. After his father passed when Dave was only six years old his mother moved him and his two sisters, Danette and Mary Ann, to Provo, UT. While he was an avid learner, Dave did not always see the value of educational institutions and began his lifelong manifesto of sticking it to the man when he left kindergarten after being told he was required to participate in nap time. Dave left school in an unsanctioned protest and walked home. Luckily, he made it home safe and his teacher was persuaded to his line of thinking and excused Dave from all future nap times. He continued to his education by attending Provo High School and later Timpview High School. Dave even endeavored in some extracurricular “experiments,” others may have referred to as mischief or hell raising, that occasionally and sometimes literally blew up in his face.
Soon after graduation, Dave met the love of his life and beautiful wife, Rebekka. He was persistent and Rebekka Farrer, after being hoodwinked by his humor and charms, did finally agree to become Rebekka Johnson. The epic romance of Dave and Bekki was cemented when they were sealed as eternal true companions. Dave often filled family life with his humor and charms, what the family affectionately referred to as “annoying” will be sorely missed by his surviving wife, Rebekka Johnson and eight children, Booker, Jeremy, Torri, Shelbi, Chloé, Noah, Gracie, and Wyatt. Dave was a devoted and loving father and husband. Dave loved spending time outdoors and taking his family on adventures where he would share his many talents as an avid cowboy and woodsman. He was never too busy to get kicked out of one of his children’s sporting events for cheering too passionately or too tired to share a cheesy joke. His children knew dad had the right tools to fix anything from a wrench for the leaky faucet to a root beer float for life’s bigger problems.
Dave shared his talents with more than his family and you could often find him helping others with or without being asked. Dave loved to work with his hands and never wanted to be stuck inside behind a desk. He supported his family as a business owner, stone mason, and contractor. On even the shortest of drives through town you can find Dave’s work in the neighbors’ foundations, homes, and hearths.
Dave developed a deep love for the Lord and focused his life on emulating the love and service of Jesus Christ. He was a spiritual leader. He served as a volunteer in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in many roles. Dave loved teaching and was a favorite among the youth who gravitated to his grandpa wisdom and humor.
Dave was a man of many talents and unique hobbies. Every one of his children can attest to his skill as a pitcher, having attended many of what they’d called his “old man softball league” where they enjoyed cheering on dad and more importantly the delicious snack bar treats.
Among Dave’s other hobbies were knife forging, watching Judge Judy, America’s Got Talent, and taking daily walks around the neighborhood. Dave was also an amateur jewelry maker. One day, after losing his wedding band at work, he came home and immediately forged a new ring from an old quarter to replace it and never was seen without the symbol of his love for Bekki on his hand.
As Dave aged, his devotion to service and love of ice cream never dwindled. His passion for teasing also remained strong as he soon had eight grandchildren as new victims. Luckily, his grandchildren had some mischief of their own and grandpa got as good as he gave. Dave’s greatest joy was being with his family. His legacy will live on in all of our hearts as we remember the twinkle in his eye when he was the only one to laugh at his own terrible dad jokes or how much love he had for us. He will be dearly missed.
