Paul Gordon Johnson

Paul Johnson’s friends all referred to him as a legend. His kindness, gentleness, compassion and care for the members of his community were legendary. He was a gifted and creative leader, a talented multidisciplinary artist, a pyrotechnician, a welder, a charismatic event organizer, and a friend to everyone he met. Paul had a smile that broke the skies wide open and had a deep well of compassion that helped more people than anyone could count. His dry sense of humour and his ridiculous stack of Dad jokes kept everyone he loved laughing.

Paul graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science with a minor in Pure Mathematics. He made his living for most of his life as a computer programmer and a project manager for Fekete Associates and IHS, but these were not the things that he marked his life by. It was his care for his family, his joy in his community and his delight in creating art installations with his close friends that he labelled as markers of success. Paul saw his son Xyler as his greatest gift. He was a devoted and caring Dad who helped his son navigate a complicated path into confident adulthood.

Paul loved the outdoors. Whether it was skiing, mountain biking, climbing, hiking or camping, Paul was out on the rocky mountain trails whenever he could escape the city. He loved to dance. We all looked for his sparky smile up above most of the crowd when he rocked it out on the dance floor. Paul also adored good books and good art. Both the beautiful tattoos splashed across his shockingly white skin, and the art he found scattered everywhere else around him.

Paul was predeceased by his Mom Diane, his Dad Phil, and his Uncle John.

Paul Johnson will be keenly missed by his son Xyler; brothers Eric and Brian; former wife and coparent Erin; aunt Miriam and Mary Ellen; uncles Stacy, Bill, and Fred; his numerous cousins; nephew Elliott; nieces Hazel and Astrid; his dear friend Dree; and all his other family and friends who were blessed to know him and share in his life. We all wish we’d had more time. We will carry his memory in our hearts forever.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, we ask that memorial donations be made directly to Transactionalberta.ca/donate or to Skippingstone.ca/donate. Both of these resources represented the kind of community care that was most important to Paul during his life.