Harold DeWayne Johnson

Harold DeWayne Johnson was born on May 1st, 1936, in La Junta, Colorado, to Orville Thomas Johnson and Thelma Alberta Johnson (nee Roberts). He was the fifth child born to the couple and was the younger brother to Marion, Orville, Josephine Makil (nee Johnson), Paul, and the older brother to Kenneth Johnson. Harold fondly recounted his formative years in La Junta and with his extended family in Bennett and Strasburg, Colorado.

He spent extended time throughout his childhood with his grandparents, William Wesley Roberts and Mary Eliza Roberts (nee Price), after falling from a tree and breaking his left arm at the age of five. His arm had to be amputated to save his life due to poor healthcare in a rural area and racism. His mother and grandmother nursed him back to health at home using medicinal healing treatments. Due to their tireless care, Harold was able to thrive. His mother insisted that he learn how to manage without his arm, and he did so throughout his early years, earning All-State distinction in both wrestling and as an outside linebacker in football. Harold had a friendly personality and was well-liked by his peers, resulting in him being elected the class president and king to the homecoming court of his La Junta high school. He would later serve as the master of ceremony for several class reunions.

Harold was a diligent student and would not allow others or racialized disparities to stymie his educational goals, as he firmly believed that “an education is the one thing that no one can take away from you.” In the late 1950s, Harold attended Otero Junior College before eventually transferring to Colorado State College, Greeley, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in social sciences and a minor in biological sciences in 1960. He worked for his Uncle Frank Roberts to earn money for his schooling between school terms. While at Colorado State College, Greeley, Harold became active in the 1960s movement for Black Civil Rights and Black Studies, becoming the first Black male student to live off campus. In September of 1960, Harold began his four-decades-long tenure in teaching as a student teacher in Strasburg, Colorado. In 1961, he moved to Denver and began his formal teaching career at the Denver Public School at Horse Mann Junior High, where he would go on to serve as a teacher, vice principal, and finally as the principal at Montebello High School. After his retirement in 2001, he continued as a substitute teacher for several more years.

While teaching a first aid class to new teachers at Horace Mann Middle School, he met, fell in love, and then later married his wife, Brenda Nannie Johnson (nee Kirkpatrick), who predeceased him on January 20th, 2021. Harold and Brenda were married for over fifty years. They were the proud parents of Harold DeWayne Johnson, II (Laura Hill), Lori Nel Johnson (Douglas Burrell), Natasha Alberta Johnson, Sonya Maria Johnson, Ph.D., Frank Joshua Thomas Johnson, Micah Samuel Johnson (Mary Johnson, nee Hart), and Joel Wesley Johnson. Harold and Brenda were also the proud grandparents to James Johnson Burrell, Isabella Alexandra Burrell, Elijah Micah Johnson, and Etta Marie Johnson.

Harold was a lifelong learner and used his education as a tool for self-expansion and to promote social rights, a legacy he inherited from his parents. Harold earned three master’s degrees, all within the realm of Secondary Education. He also continued with additional coursework towards a doctorate in education from the University of Colorado, Boulder; in the late 1970s, Harold postponed his formal educational career to take care of his growing family.

Harold loved being a father. He enjoyed spending time on his first-born son Harold's (DJ’s) farm and horseback riding; attending countless sporting events for Frank, Micah, and Joel; and attending choir, other musical events, Girl Scouting, and academic presentations for Lori, Natasha, and Sonya. Harold was rejuvenated by the outdoors, in his words, “God’s country,” taking the family on camping trips throughout the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and to Mesa Verde. Harold and Brenda would also take their kids on road trips to experience historical destinations throughout the United States, including Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

In addition to his never-ending commitment to providing for his family, Harold was acknowledged for his dedication as a teacher. He earned the 1979 Teacher of the Year distinction from Denver Public Schools, which was the highest accolade in secondary education. Harold was also selected as a finalist in the National Rockefeller Fellowship. Created to give scholarships to outstanding teachers to experience Mining production and refinement throughout the western United States. They learned about various geological landscapes and mineral use development in the late 1980s. Harold was a leader in the promotion of social rights in Colorado. Harold served as a keynote speaker for Martin Luther King Jr Day on January 20th, 1997, and received the designation as a “Teacher to Look Up To;” in the State of Colorado

Harold was an avid reader. He enjoyed Louis L'Amour novels, classic literature, history, Black presence in the Western United States, psychology, and many other topics. Harold was also a devoted fan of the TV series Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and classic westerns, watching them after church on Sundays. He always enjoyed a good Western any time of day or night.

Harold’s spiritual development started with his father, Orville Thomas, who advised him that the answers to life were contained in the book of Proverbs, and as such, Harold always read his bible daily. His mother, Thelma Alberta, instilled in him a love of music, which he carried throughout his life. In his early twenties, Harold had a crooner band called the Stardusters, with their signature song being the ballad “Stardust.”

Religion was a key feature in Harold’s life from a young age, beginning with the First Baptist Church in La Junta. Harold changed his church membership to Peoples Presbyterian Church when he went to college and later to the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant as a church in which to raise his and Brenda’s children. Harold served as an elder for many terms and was a staple member of the Men’s Group at both Peoples Church and the Church of the Covenant. He sang in each church’s choir and would often sing solos drawn from African American Spiritual collections. His rendering of “O Danny Boy” was often requested to lay other church members to rest.

After almost eighty-eight years of life, Harold leaves a devoted family, committed to the community, hard work, and faith as his enduring legacies for all who knew him. He was a man of the people doing quick work to change strangers’ reservations into feeling they were a part of the family and always welcomed. He enjoyed good food, long conversations, and a hearty laugh, and he never lost an opportunity to live out his vocation as a teacher. Harold DeWayne Johnson, Sr, is survived by his children, their loving partners, sister-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

Love you, Dad/Harold/Uncle Harold/Grandpa/Papa.

Please RSVP if you wish to attend Harold D. Johnson, Sr., celebration of life and remembrance of Brenda N. Johnson to [email protected].

Services and reception will take place Wednesday, May 1st at 11 am at Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121

The family thanks you for your continued care and support during our difficult loss. Mom and Dad were able to enjoy the home they created together throughout their retirement years and the COVID-19 pandemic because of the thoughtful care of family and several organizations. It is with this same spirit of enduring community care that we ask that in lieu of flowers, all donations go to honor the memory of Harold D. Johnson and Brenda N. Johnson by helping support the work and mission of the organizations below:

Nourish Meals on Wheels of Centennial, Colorado, at: https://www.nourishmealsonwheels.org/donate or, via surface mail at Nourish Meals on Wheels, PO Box 3108 Centennial, CO 80161.

OR

The Denver Teachers’ Club Assistance Fund, the oldest non-profit in Colorado. Founded in 1897 by William Smiley, Dora Moore, and several other Denver Public Schools pioneers, the Club provides durable medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, canes, and more) free of charge for Denver Public Schools employees and their families for as long as they need it.

Donations can be mailed to Denver Teachers’ Club Assistance Fund at:

1617 S. Acoma Street Denver CO 80223 using this form. If you choose, the Denver Teachers’ Club can inform the family of your gift (presence, not amount). Notifications about your gift can be sent to Dr. Sonya Maria Johnson, 700 College Street, Beloit, WI 53511.