Donald Stuart Johnston

Donald Stuart Johnston was born on September 22, 1941 to the late Roy and Grace Johnston. He passed away on October 29, 2026 at the age of 85. Don was a man of strong faith, deep love for his family, a wonderful sense of humor, and a genuine interest in others. He was a great listener who made people feel welcome and important. His door was always open, and everyone was welcome to stop by. Whether family, a longtime friend, or someone he had just met, Don made people feel right at home.

Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Jo (Dirkx) Johnston; his son, Craig Johnston and his wife, Tami; and his daughter, Mary Kolpin and her husband, Mike. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Grace Johnston, and his two brothers, Bruce Johnston and Ray Johnston.

Craig and Tami’s family includes Jacob Johnston and his wife, Kaytie; Hudson Johnston and his wife, Nikki; Colten Kisner and his wife, Maren; and Casey Butler and her husband, Logan. Their family also includes five granddaughters.

Mary and Mike’s children are Alexandria Gill and her husband, Michael; Stuart Kolpin and his wife, Maddy; and Andrew Kolpin. Alexandria and Michael have a daughter and a son.

Don attended Buena Vista College and served 10 years in the Iowa Army National Guard, attaining the rank of First Lieutenant before being honorably discharged. He had tremendous respect for the men and women who served our country and took a special interest in his family’s military history, particularly during World War I and World War II.

Throughout his working years, Don built a career with Sears and later Walmart. He was hardworking, dependable, and took pride in whatever he did.

Don loved being outdoors. In his younger years, he enjoyed boating on the Mississippi River and the beautiful lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin. He also enjoyed duck hunting and spending time at Green Lake, Wisconsin. During the 10 years he lived in Phoenix, Arizona, he developed a love for the desert and enjoyed many rounds of golf. After their fifth grandchild was born, Don and Mary Jo moved from Arizona to the Kansas City area to be closer to family. Don loved driving the dirt roads with his son, Craig, and having dinner with Mary and her family, who lived just seven houses down the street.

Anyone who knew Don knew how much pride he took in his yard. It was always immaculate and he worked hard to keep it that way. He even kept track of how many bags of leaves he collected each year!

Don was a meticulous record keeper. He documented just about everything on his trusty 3x5 index cards. One of his favorite pastimes was playing cribbage with his son-in-law, Mike. For 20 years, Don kept a running tally of who owed whom from their games. According to his final records, Don owed Mike exactly $63.10. And knowing Don, there is little doubt that his math was correct!

He also loved listening to old country music, cheering on his Kansas City Royals, and spending time with family. He especially enjoyed following his grandchildren’s activities and celebrating the things that were important to them.

Don’s Christian faith was an important part of his life. Over the years, he worshipped in the Methodist, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches. His faith was not something he simply talked about; it was part of his daily routine. Each morning, before his first cup of coffee, Don said his prayers while riding his exercise bike in the basement. It was a quiet, faithful way to begin his day.

Above all, Don loved his family. He was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He treasured gatherings, shared stories, and the opportunity to spend time with those he loved.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Don’s honor to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) at www.dav.org or Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Leawood, Kansas at www.lordoflifekc.com.

Don will be remembered for his kindness, his quick wit, his funny laugh, his attention to detail, his unwavering faith, and the way he made people feel valued. He lived a full life, found joy in the little things, and left his family with countless memories and stories that will be shared for generations.

He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. As Don always said, “Life is Great!”

Donald’s life will be honored with a visitation at McGilley State Line Chapel on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

A funeral service will be held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church on Friday, November 13, 2026 at 10:30 am, immediately followed by a luncheon at the church. Donald will be laid to rest in Mount Moriah Cemetery South at 2:00 pm.