David Johnson

"One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4

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 & 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.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Esther Johnson; his father-in-law, Lloyd Oldenkamp; brother, Ron Johnson; and nephew Jeff Johnson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following St. Paul Lutheran Church Funds: School Foundation, Mission Fund, Stephen Ministries, and Grief Share; as well as the Haiti Lutheran Mission Society.  Online contributions may be made to St. Paul by visiting https://www.stpauljackson.com .  Contributions to Haiti Lutheran Mission Society may be mailed to P.O. Box 82653, Lincoln, NE, United States, Nebraska 68501-2653.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, November 20, 2024, and from 10 a.m. to service time, Thursday, November 21, 2024, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The Rev. Joshua Schmidt will conduct the funeral service at 11 a.m., Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the St. Paul.  Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Arrangements by McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above this article.

St. Paul Lutheran Church - Jackson, MO
223 W. Adams, Jackson MO 63755
Tel: 1-573-243-2236
Email: office@stpauljackson.com
Web: http://www.stpauljackson.com

Haiti Lutheran Mission Society
P. O. Box 82653, Lincoln NE 68501-2653
Tel: 1-402-474-2063
Web: https://www.facebook.com/p/Haiti-Lutheran-Mission-Society-USA-100064911213131/?locale=hy_AM