Sherman David Johnson

Sherman David Johnson, 70, passed away on September 18, 2025, at his home in Carmel, IN. He is survived by his wife and joy of his life, Carol, his mother, Peg, his three children, Jared, David (Anne) and Lauren, ten grandchildren, his sisters Deb (Ed) and Kristeen (Bob), his brothers-in-law Tom (Sharon), Jeff (Sandra), and Todd (Nichole), along with numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Carl Johnson, his father-in-law Carl Begerow, and his mother-in-law, Lillian Begerow.

Sherm was born in Grand Rapids, MI. He attended and played baseball at Grand Rapids Junior College before earning a full-ride athletic scholarship to play baseball at Michigan State University for the great Danny Litwhiler who became a source of friendship and, later, biographical information for a college essay in David’s freshman year at Wabash College. It was at Michigan State that Sherm, also met his lifelong friend, Jim Cotter, who in Sherm’s waning days, brought him back to Michigan State to walk the baseball field and once again stand on the mound.

After graduation, Sherm and Carol were married and moved to Indianapolis, IN. He worked in various fields such as transportation and logistics, medical equipment, and technical staffing. Shortly upon arriving in Indianapolis, Sherm immersed himself in local politics for the Marion County GOP, ultimately serving on the Greater Indianapolis Republican Finance Council. It was through his work with the GOP, that he met another great friend, Jeff Terp, who would be a close friend until the end. Sherm also was active with the Columbia Club in downtown Indianapolis. Sherm’s involvement in politics ultimately brought him to manage a congressional campaign for Mike Pence in 1990.

After stepping back from the political sphere, Sherm would stay active with his church, Westlane Delaware Trails Little League, and never missing his kids’ sporting events. He ultimately developed a career in workforce development and was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by then Governor Mike Pence. Later Sherm served at the Indiana Department of Corrections and as part of Governor Holcomb’s Workforce Cabinet. At DOC, Sherm developed programs to provide inmates training and credentials so they would have the skills necessary to integrate back into society after serving their sentence.

Like the lonely mushroom lamenting his lackluster love life, Sherm was a “fungi.” He was always quick with a joke or observation. In the early 2000s, there was a since debunked study that said red heads were mutants. As a red head, he found this hilarious, and a point of pride. He had a deep appreciation for the comedic genius of Kevin James and Jerry Seinfeld. Jared and he also found joy in listening to the greatest announcer and poet in the history of Western Civilization, Bill Walton. He had his own sense of style. While eschewing denim in favor of Brooks Brothers and constantly telling his sons that only the President or a mortician could wear a black suit, he also liked bright orange Crocs and socks and the Togolese shirt his friend Raphael recently brought back for him from Togo.

Trips “Up North” were de rigeur, and he loved those trips with Carol and Lauren. Visiting Mackinac Island, Charlevoix, and Traverse City, were annual highlights.

And he enjoyed writing. He would write letters to the editor, restaurant reviews, as well as notes to politicians, writers and, yes, even the chef of his favorite restaurant, Late Harvest Kitchen. It seems that sending letters and notes is a lost art, but these notes often led to lasting friendships, even with people whom he never met in person. He was also a voracious reader, and his reading led him to the writings of St. John Paul II, which, after years of attending mass with Carol, helped lead him to coming into full communion with the Catholic Church in July 2025. There are also numerous letters and emails he wrote to family and friends in times of hardship. These were letters of love and support to ease the pain and suffering of the recipient.

He was a faithful servant to the Lord and was a devoted husband and father. He prioritized faith and family above all else, and the standards he set for himself were non-negotiable.

At the end, he suffered. But his suffering was in stark contrast to the delight he brought to so many, and the suffering of his family and loved ones he hoped to ease, throughout his life. Despite the sadness we feel, Carol above all, there is happiness that through suffering comes redemption and, as St. John Paul II wrote, “completes the suffering of Christ.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse or St. Luke Catholic Church. Funeral services for Sherm will be held on September 24, 2025, at 11:30am EDT at St. Luke Catholic Church. The viewing will be immediate prior from 10am – 11:30am EDT. For those attending the viewing and the funeral, the Rosary will be offered from 11:00am – 11:30am EDT.