Glenn Lee Johnson

Glenn Lee Johnson was born on August 20, 1952, outside the city limits of Des Moines, Iowa, as the third child of George and Aletha Johnson. He was a happy child. His favorite season growing up was Winter and he loved all things snow – snowball fights, forts, playing in the snow – you named it. He also enjoyed roller skating and ice skating. He loved all things outdoors and that lasted his whole life. He loved sports growing up and played little league, loved swimming, riding his bike, etc. He was a Cub and Boy Scout. He also earned the level of Eagle Scout. The family lived in Des Moines until Glenn was 13 and they moved to Independence, Missouri. They moved for the last time as a family to Belton, Missouri.

Glenn graduated in 1970 from Belton High School where he was a good student in most subjects especially Science and Math, and not so much in Spelling and English. He joined the track team and was a really good mile runner! He went on to do various trades and jobs such as working for the IRS, being a plumbing apprentice, working for an electrician, etc. He was always good with his hands. In 1972 he joined the US Air Force. He earned various awards and commendations and was an excellent marksman.

While in England with the Air Force, he was in the military club celebrating his 21st birthday when he met Marlene, who normally would have never been there, but had went to the club with a friend. She thought Glenn was funny with a good sense of humor, and they hit it off. Four months later in December of 1973, they married and the two became an instant family with Marlene’s daughter, Cheryl. Next year their son, Kirby, was born. The family travelled to many posts and bases over the years Glenn was in the military including many southwestern states and Germany. He even had a long-term assignment in South Korea close to the end of his time in the Air Force. At the end of his military career in 1986, he was working on large computer systems fixing them and maintaining them. He rose to the rank of TSgt before his honorable discharge.

After he exited the military, he wanted to pursue his dream of programming computers and went to work for the US Department of Agriculture, where he learned to code. He worked for the USDA for 35 years. He rose to the title of Senior Programmer Systems Analyst and even testified before senate committees in his tenure, where he reluctantly had to wear a tie!

Glenn was always an avid reader, learner, generous and helpful soul, and just overall great guy. As stated before, he loved to spend time outdoors and some of his fondest memories were going on deer hunts with his friends and family, where he would hardly ever come back with any deer at all (secretly his family thought he just liked to be out there – even though they knew he was an excellent marksman and could have brought home more deer than he did). He loved anime, comics, cartoons, Marvin the Martian, Star Trek, Star Wars, reading sci-fi novels, playing games of all kinds, watching his grandkids play sports and perform, target shooting, woodworking, and going out to eat with Marlene. He was a gregarious soul and never met a stranger. He literally could find something to talk to anyone about.

In 2012 Glenn was diagnosed with Non-Hodkin's Mantle Cell Lymphoma and fought bravely up until his death. Even though his health diminished his mind was as sharp as ever! He fought the fight bravely, but his body was just worn out from all the struggles. Glenn died on October 6, 2023, in the ICU at Research Hospital in Kansas City, after a hard weeklong battle. The family wishes to thank all the people involved in taking care of Glenn during that time and over the years. They were all top-notch.

Glenn was an amazing person, and he will truly be missed. Glenn leaves behind his wife Marlene of almost 50 years, his son Kirby Johnson and wife Gina of Anchorage, AK and their animal babies, his daughter Cheryl McCarroll and husband, David, and 4 grandchildren – Julianna, Caleb, Joshua, and Olivia McCarroll of Raytown, MO. He also leaves behind his sister, Linda and her husband Roy Ortiz of NM, his brother Ralph of Belton, MO, and his brother Norman Day and wife Penny of Harrisonville, MO. Glenn had numerous nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews, who he loved a lot. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Aletha Johnson. Glenn had numerous friends who were like family to him, and they are too many to name here. He was a lover of people in general.

The family wishes to thank all the people who have reached out to them during this difficult time as it is so appreciated. The family is planning a private memorial on Sunday, October 29, 2023. In lieu of flowers the family has set up a donation link in his honor to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society at https://diy.lls.org/GlennLJohnson so that Glenn’s memory can help the battle for a cure to these types of cancers. This is a story of a life well lived.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleygeorgebelton.com for the Johnson family.