Danny Jack Johnson

Danny Jack Johnson went to be with his Lord and Savior April 29, 2018 surrounded by his family. He was born to Jack and Edith Johnson in Kim, Colorado. Danny graduated from Kim High School in 1949, and continued to work on the ranch his granddad Johnson homesteaded in 1916.

His parents purchased the John Deere business in La Junta and they moved to town. He spent the next year as a bachelor and decided that wasn't for him. Then on July 6, 1950 he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Goodrich. He liked telling people how he stole the farmer’s daughter.

Times were tough so he chopped cedar trees making fence posts to use on the ranch and sell. He worked nights at the sugar factory in Swink for a few years while still farming and ranching.

In 1958 and 1959 he did custom grass harvest with his good friend and partner LonDale Lowry. He then started custom wheat harvesting, traveling from Texas to Montana which he did for 35 years. He decided to retire when all the kids and grandkids were no longer able to help him.

After retiring from harvesting, Danny and Donna decided they wanted to travel wintering in Alamo, Texas for 17 years. They were able to take tours into Mexico along with other places. They enjoyed square dancing, classes learning new crafts and fellowship with many wonderful friends.

Danny worked hard as a farmer enjoying what he did. In May 1969 he was awarded the Outstanding Farmer Award for 1968 for Las Animas County. Danny was a member of the Kim Lions Club.

Times were tough and he worked hard, but Danny always took time every summer to take his family to their favorite place, Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There the family would spend a week and had lots of fun. In 1980 Danny and Donna built a log home enjoying it for many years. The kids still think the best Christmas they ever had was going to Pagosa spending a week skiing and snow-mobiling followed by a late day turkey dinner. This was enjoyed in the hilly meadows where we summered our cattle.

After living on the ranch for fifty three years health issues started to become a problem. Danny felt they needed to make a change so after selling the ranch they moved to La Junta. With more free time in La Junta Danny enjoyed playing his keyboard and singing at the area nursing homes
and assisted living facilities. He also enjoyed making beautiful stained glass giving most away as gifts. Another hobby taking talent and patience was making beautiful Japanese Tamari balls, each one taking around 15 hours and six hundred yards of thread, he gave many of these as gifts. He was a person who had a need to stay busy and taught his children and grandchildren this trait.

Danny and Donna both accepted Christ as their Savior in 1952 and were baptized together in Holbrook Lake. Danny and Donna were married for sixty-seven years.

He is survived by his wife Donna of the family home; children, Lavone (Sam) Cowen of Peyton, Colorado, Danny (Deann) Johnson of La Junta, Vernie (Roger) Spady of Lamar, Bob (Melanee) Johnson of Seibert; and special brother, Bennie (Grace) Johnson of Rocky Ford. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 6 great, great-grandchildren.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Jack and Edith Johnson, brother, Donnie Johnson, brother, Billy Johnson and an infant Baby Brother Johnson.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Valley Community Church in Rocky Ford with Kurt England officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Peacock Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow service at the Fairview Cemetery in La Junta.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sangre de Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care, or Camp Salvation, 17625 Vigilante View, Fountain, CO 80817 direct or through the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.PeacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.