Wayne Norman Johnson

Our hearts are heavy as we announce the passing of our dad, papa and husband, Wayne Norman Johnson. Wayne left this earth and entered his eternal resting place with Jesus on January 30, 2025. He was surrounded by his family, enveloped in their love and promised a reunion with those who had gone before him. This past year has been difficult with a steady decline since a heart procedure in November 2024.

While we are sad and he will be missed, Wayne lived a long and full life. He was born on March 5, 1940 in Alcester, SD. He was the youngest of 4 children born to David and Gladys Johnson. He grew up on a farm where he learned the value of hard work, how to stretch a dollar, and family traditions from his Swedish ancestry. He prided himself on being number one in his grade school class, and chuckled when he admitted he was the only one in that grade! He graduated from Alcester High School where he played football and basketball. Wayne loved sports. He went to the University of South Dakota, where he played football and was an Army ROTC cadet.

After college, Wayne traded in the farm life and embraced the ocean breeze and salt water air. He was stationed at Fort Ord Army Post in Monterey, California. It was there that he would meet his wife of almost 60 years, Cheryl. They married in August 1965. They spent their first year of marriage in Vermillion where Wayne earned a master’s degree in physical education. They would return to the California coast and begin their teaching careers and start their family. Wayne was the first Varsity Head Coach for the Aptos High School football team.

Greg, Joi and Julee were all born in California. In 1978 Wayne and Cheryl moved to Colorado Springs. He left his teaching days behind and became a real estate entrepreneur. He invested in motels, office buildings, apartments, multiple land deals and his beloved Academy Place Office & Storage. While some people move into a “project house”, complete the projects and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for Wayne, the projects were never done. As he aged his kids worried about the time he spent outside and agonized over his “I don’t need to hire someone, I can do it” attitude. But this is what made Wayne happy. He did not delight in the easy but found life in the tasks. Over this past year, as his body became weaker, not being able to do the physical labor he so enjoyed bothered him greatly.

When Wayne wasn’t fixing a sprinkler head, repairing a fence, hauling dirt or loading up the bed of his pickup truck, he enjoyed time on the golf course. During a doctor’s appointment in December, he was asked about his hobbies. He sadly said he was not able to enjoy all the things he used to do. But for those of you whose phone number was in his old faithful address book you know one hobby never stopped - - he called you. Wayne loved to connect with people. Whether you were a friend from 60 years ago, a family member or a stranger at the grocery store, his desire to connect with people was strong. He wanted to know your story, where you were from, what you do for a living and if you wanted to hear a joke? It has been said multiple times, Wayne was One of a Kind!

Wayne is survived by his wife Cheryl, son Greg (Carrie Johnson, Zach and Courtney), and two daughters, Joi (Rob Phillips, Blake, Taylor, Grant and Raegan) and Julee (Jason Daniels, Bo and Rylee). He is also survived by two brothers and a sister, Ron Johnson, Dean Johnson and Marilyn Hansen (Marlin), and many nieces and nephews.

Wayne’s faith foundation began as a boy at Big Spring Baptist Church. Once he moved to Colorado Springs, Wayne faithfully drove his family across town every week to attend First Presbyterian Church. He was a member for 47 years. It is there where we will celebrate his life on Tuesday, February 18 at Noon. 219 E. Bijou Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the ministry of Young Life, 420 N. Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 8090