Thomas A Johnson

Tom was born in Lodi, Ohio, on August 27, 1941, to Harry and Nellie Johnson. He was next to last of nine children. He passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 30, 2024 (age 83), at home. Tom grew up in and around Lodi, Ohio. He worked hard from a young age. He moved away from home at 14 and worked for a farmer on a neighboring farm. 

Tom met Betty in High School. In their junior year, he told his friend that “for two cents, I would ask the Miller girl out”. His friend gave him the two cents and he asked her out. Betty said “No”. He just kept asking and she finally accepted. They were married one year after they graduated. Betty’s dad would not sign the marriage papers, so they drove to Ringgold, Georgia, and got married by a friend of their pastor, on April 13, but the date on their marriage license was April 14, so they gone with that all these years. They returned home and settled in Litchfield, Ohio. All four of their children were born in Lodi at the same hospital as their dad. 

Tom worked for Davey Tree Company, climbing and trimming trees; he worked at the Foundry in Grafton, Ohio, making products out of steel. At the Foundry, a fellow worker put a cold iron rod in a hot vat of steel and it exploded burning him from his nose to his belly button. God miraculously kept him alive, and he had only minor scaring from the burns. He went on to work for Chevrolet in Cleveland, Ohio. After working there, he always said he would NEVER own a Chevy, and he stuck to it – he only drove Ford’s!

In 1973 he felt God calling him to move his family to Colorado. We settled in Simla. Bro. Kari, who had moved to Simla some years earlier, had been a mentor during his teenage years, and continued to mentor and counsel him during his transition time. Tom was hired at Nichols Tillage Tools in Simla and then by Rock Island Railroad based out of Limon. He LOVED the rail (his father had worked for the railroad in Ohio). He was extremely disappointed when the Rock Island closed down. He was able to work for the Burlington Northern but had to drive from Simla to Goodland, Kansas, and back (135 miles one way) every day. He made the trip daily for many months and eventually stayed during the week with the Behrman family in Burington. His final job was with Transit Mix Concrete. He started out driving an 18-wheeler delivering supplies and ended working in the yard selling supplies and bending rebar for jobs. 

Tom, Betty, and their family attended Calhan Assembly of God Church in Calhan, Colorado, until moving into Colorado Springs in 1985. Both were very active with the youth and then in leading in Missionettes and Royal Ranger groups. Tom felt blessed to be asked to be a Sectional Leader where he mentored other leaders to lead young boys. This was his passion – to see men and boys come to know Jesus as their Savior and to live their lives pleasing God. It was through Missions at the church that he was introduced to the Teen Challenge Program. For many years he was involved with Royce Nimmons and the Teen Challenge program in Woodland Park. Tom loved Jesus and was so excited to be able to take several missions trips to share that love with others. He and Betty went to New Zealand twice and he went to Africa once. The first trip to New Zealand he was blessed to preach. He watched God save two rival gang leaders in the same service which proved to others that his Jesus was real. 

He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Betty Johnson; his four children, Janice (David) Reed, Aleta (Mark) Fields, Karla (William) Puck, and Scott Johnson; five grandchildren, Daniel (Angela) Reed of Colorado Springs, April (John) Kalua, of Phoenix, Arizona, Crystal (Lars) Gotaas, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Jennifer (Mark) Johnson of Bagley, Minnesota, and Jeremiah Johnson, of Colorado Springs. He was blessed with nine great-grandchildren, Daxton Reed, Leilani, Niko, and Naomi Kalua, Marley and Myles Gotaas, and Ado, Annabelle, and Adelynn Johnson. He is survived by his sister, Velma Wallner, of San Luis Obispo, California. He leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many, many wonderful friends. 

There will be a visitation 10:00AM, Friday, January 17, 2025, and Funeral Service 11:00AM, Friday, January 17, 2025, at The Springs Funeral Services located at 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

The burial at Antioch Cemetery in Yoder, Colorado on 10:00AM, Saturday, January 18, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to The Inspiration Church at the link below or mailed to their address at: 1218 Prairie Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909. ATTN: “Memorial – Tom Johnson”. Tom and Betty have been attending Inspiration since its inception two years ago. Dad’s heart was to help this young church get on its feet and reach as many people as possible in their neighborhood with the good news about Jesus and His love for them. He would be honored to know you honored him with a gift to the church.  

LINK: Donate: theinspirationchurch.churchcenter.com  Click on the “Give” tab, choose “In Honor of Tom Johnson” in the drop-down.