Pastor David Johnson, age 73, finished his battle with cancer November 16, 2024, and entered into his heavenly inheritance with the Lord.

Dave was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 17, 1951, to John and Esther Dyer Johnson. After high school, he attended the University of Nebraska Omaha where he graduated with a degree in Geography and Geology. Following college, he married the love of his life, Valerie Oldenkamp, on May 3, 1975. They moved to Springfield, Illinois, to begin theological training at Concordia Theological Seminary. He completed his Master of Divinity at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, in May of 1979.

Following graduation, Dave and Val moved to Midland, Michigan, where he served as Pastor at Messiah Lutheran – Bullock Creek (1979-1984). His second parish was Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he served as Associate Pastor (1984—1994). In 1994, he accepted his final call to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Jackson, Missouri, where he served as Senior Pastor until his retirement in 2013.

Dave’s love of sharing the Gospel led him to his greatest passions in ministry: preaching, teaching, and mission outreach. He began the Stephen Ministries program at Faith Lutheran, served as a theological instructor to seminary students in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, through Haiti Lutheran Mission Society, and introduced Grief Share to the Jackson community. He continued his call to preach during his retirement by filling in for area congregations, as needed. He also led women’s and adult bible study at St. Paul.

Outside of his ministry, he was known as a loving Husband, Father, Papa, and Friend. Dave and Val were happily married for 49 years. In those 49 years, they raised 4 children, welcomed a daughter-in-law, 3 sons-in-law, 4 grandchildren, and a grand dog.

In retirement, Dave & Val enjoyed trips to see kids and grandchildren, vacationing in National Parks, scrapbooking their life’s journey, and competing in their weekly Scrabble game, where Val is ahead by 1000 points, but who’s counting?

Dave enjoyed woodworking, fishing, hunting for pheasant and turkey, studying American History, St. Louis Cardinals, and Nebraska football (Go Cornhuskers!).

Dave is survived by his wife, Val; his children Sara (Scott) Knabe, Katie (Lonnie) Chapman, Paul (Dr. Emily) Johnson, Laura (Mike) Boyle; his grandchildren Grace Johnson, Wally and Lucy Boyle, and Cal Knabe; his sister Jan (Cliff) Sorenson; sister-in-law Sharon Johnson; mother-in-law, Helen Oldenkamp; brothers-in-law, Duane (Anne) and Don (Debbie) Oldenkamp; sisters-in-law, Verla Niebuhr and Verjean (Pete) Christopher; and numerous nieces and nephews.