Dean Johnson

Dean Duane Johnson Dean Johnson, 64, Brewster, KS, died May 29, 2016, at Citizen’s Medical Center of complications from heart failure. Dean was born May 17th, 1952, in Colby, KS, the second son of (Walfred) Hayes and Leora Adelia (Carpenter) Johnson. Dean grew up on the family farm West of Levant with his brother John, helping run the farm while attending Brewster schools. Dean and John were typical brothers, daring each other to perform stunts with dangerous objects (“See if you can cut a Kleenex with this knife I just sharpened!”) and causing chaos for their parents. Dean met Sheila Irene Moser (Winona, KS) in 1969 while still a Senior at Brewster High School. Dean went on to graduate in 1970, attending Fort Hays State University. The two continued dating through college, marrying in July of 1972 after Sheila graduated. After marrying, Dean and Sheila moved to Grinnell where Sheila began teaching Mathematics. Dean commuted weekly to Fort Hays until he graduated two years later, May 1974, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Dean accepted a teaching position at Winona schools, commuting daily from Grinnell to teach science. During this time, Dean had the opportunity to teach Sheila’s youngest sister, Leisha (Moser) Carpenter. In 1977, Dean accepted a High School Science position in Grinnell, starting a life-long teaching partnership with his wife at the same school. In August 1978, Dean and Sheila had their first son, Travis, and several months later the new family moved in to their first home. Soon after, Dean began working on the family farm with Hayes and John during the summer to help out after his Uncle Elmer Carpenter retired. Dean would often take Travis with him to the farm to ride along in the tractor or spend the day with his mom, Leora. In the late Fall and early Spring, Dean worked both jobs, putting in very long days and lots of time on the highway. In August 1986, Dean and Sheila had their second son, Tyler. A couple years later, in the Spring of 1988, the family moved to the farm when Hayes retired. They each accepted a job in Winona, Dean teaching Chemistry and Physics during the winter. Dean loved his students, providing them hot chocolate to keep warm and teaching them cribbage during their Christmas parties. When not teaching and farming, Dean had many hobbies that he shared with his sons and on his own. His love for fish led to maintaining several large salt and fresh water aquariums in his basement. He loved guns, flowers, bowling, astronomy, photography, sci-fi, watches, and absolutely any kind of gadget. He loved spending time with his family and frequently visited his sons in Wichita and Kansas City. Dean was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife Sheila, sons Travis and Tyler and wife Joanna, and grand-daughter Ella. Services will be held on Friday, June 3 rd , 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel, 745 South Country Club Drive, Colby, Kansas with burial following the ceremony at Beulah Cemetery in Colby. Memorials can be made to a Tri-Plains Scholarship fund, care of Kersenbrock Funeral Chapel.