Walter La Vern Johnson

Walter La Vern Johnson, 74, passed away, Friday, August 28, 2009, at his La Junta home. A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, September 2, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 5th & Santa Fe Avenue, with Evangelist Mike Encina of the Elim Ministries, Walsenburg officiating. Interment will follow at the Johnson Family Cemetery.
Mr. Johnson was born at a mid-wife’s home in Springfield, CO on June 10, 1935. His family lived in Kim, CO until he was 10 years old, when he moved to La Junta. He attended schools here and graduated from La Junta high school. It was there, he met the love of his life, Sally Miller. They married April 14, 1957. Out of this union were born six children.
La Vern served some years in the Colorado National Guard. He took his apprenticeship with the Santa Fe Railroad working in the car department, and also was engineer for the wrecker.
After marrying, he became a boy scout leader serving troop 234.
La Vern was saved and baptized when he was 16 years old, having received a call from the Lord for youth work during that time. Although wandering away from the Lord for 20 years, he re-dedicated his life in June of 1972. Shortly after, he was baptized in the Holy Spirit and became a truly New Creature in Christ. Making a decision to go into full-time youth work, he quit his job with the Santa Fe Railroad in 1975.
La Vern began working with youth in 1974 serving in many capacities throughout the United States and Mexico impacting the lives of thousands. La Vern had a truly youthful heart, and truly a heart for youth.
He was founder of Young Fishers of Men, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Good Shepherd Christian Academy, Arkansas Valley Chapter of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship, and co-founder of Maranatha Fellowship.
Besides his wife, he loved his children and grandchildren immensely. He leaves behind his wife, Sally, of 53 years, who attended him at home during several recent illnesses, where he passed away. He is also survived by his siblings, Cora Mae (Johnny) Vandetti and Louise (Darryl) Kirchoff. He also leaves behind children: Babette (Sam) Fief, Cindy (Richard) Padilla, Kris (Barbara) Johnson, Georgia (David) Jacob, Joey (Cristina) Johnson, and Polly (Andrew) Phillips. He leaves 26 grandchildren: Jonathan (Jen) Fief, Fort Benton, MT, Aaron Fief, Jessie (Matt) Wallace, Joshua Fief, Sam (Alex) Fief, Hannah (Jeremy) Muth, Andrea (Matt) Huard, Northfield, VT, Sarah Padilla, Anna Padilla, Benjamin Padilla, Christiana Padilla, Kristy Jimenez, Levi Johnson, Isaac Johnson, Joel Johnson, Leah Johnson, Rachel (Seth) Munson, Timothy (Kacie) Jacob, Micah Jacob, Ethan Jacob, Jordan Johnson, Luke Johnson, Aleala Johnson, Mark Johnson, Summer Phillips, and Faith Phillips; and nieces and nephews, Lu Ann Trumble, Larry Vandetti, Amy (Bill) Head, Susan Kirchoff, Leanna (Cris) Kirchoff-Frazier, Allen (Becky) Ritter, Keith (Pam) Ritter, Leslie Ritter and Bridgette Chase. He had 9 great-grandchildren: Christian, Bentley, Noah Fief, Noelle and Nevaeh Huard, Drayton and Dylan Evans, Cooper and Elias Munson; and special family, Sandy Vasquez, and Nick Martinez.
He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Tom Johnson, mother, Lula Mae Johnson, step-father, Henry Thomas, nephew, Larry Thomas Miller, granddaughters Elisabeth Jacob, and Jo Anna Phillips.
Arrangements are with Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory.


Those wishing to do so may make memorial donations to Compassion International, (www.compassion.com) Colorado Springs, CO,80997 or to Elim Ministries, 1299 Cty. Road 510, Walsenburg, CO, 81089 direct or through the funeral home.