Eddie Dean Johnson

Eddie graduated from Frederic Chopin UGC Program in Chicago, Illinois in June of 1969, receiving certificates for perfect attendance, and for his faithful performance of duties as a serving member of the Safety Patrol Program.

When Eddie was young, he enjoyed playing drums with his friend George Bart's band in his front yard across the street from Pulaski International School on McClean Street. School kids would stop what they were doing and come to watch them play. Eddie was a free spirit and worked doing various things over the years. He was well known and made so many friends in different places over the years. He worked for Slingerland Drum Company in 1974. Over that time, he traveled and enjoyed backstage passes where he got to meet various bands and enjoy timeless music. Most notably, he got to meet and hang out with Ozzie Osbourne. Eddie cherished this experience and often spoke of his time there. Later, he worked for Willie Wiggins at North American Midway Entertainment for the carnival running the Giant Slide. He was close friends with Willie, and many others from the carnival, with them keeping in touch over the years.

He met my mother Lynnae Marie Most (Johnson) (Fritz) when he was working at the carnival in 1982. I was born on June 11th, 1983. My parents were married in Bensenville, Illinois in November of 1983 at Plentywood Farms. He also briefly worked at Toys R US when I was a small child so of course, I enjoyed many visits with Dad at work riding carnival rides, spending time with his friends, and getting new toys. In 1986 my Mom graduated from Triton College in River Grove, Illinois, receiving her Surgical Technician Certificate. She got offered a position as a surgical technologist, so we made the move to Arizona. Once we got here, my father started to service pools and spent most of his career working for himself as a pool technician until he retired. My parents were simply too different in their goals and personalities, and with time they grew into separate lives, parting ways, and divorcing when I was five. Eddie lived a full life, cherishing friends and romantic companionships over the years, although he remained single and never had any other children.

Eddie is described as someone with a huge heart with a passion for concerts, especially rock, the outdoors, camping, making pottery, gardening, motorcycle rides with friends, sports, yearly trips to the family reunion in Tennessee, spending time with family, and especially spending time with his close friends at the Trough. He was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Ernest Johnson, and Mildred Faye Harper (Johnson) (Taylor), and his grandparents, and her grandparents, James Marshall Johnson, Elizabeth Jame Ward (Johnson), George Lindle Harper, and Effie Jane Clark (Harper).

He is survived by his daughter, Dianna Marie Johnson, his son in law, Jose Manuel Garcia Lopez, his grandchildren, Quinton Eugene Johnson, Elyse Marie Garcia, and Alexander Able Manuel Garcia, his siblings, P.J. Johnson, Brenda Johnson (Carnes-Hornbeak), Debbie Johnson (Nelson Leyhue), Kathy Johnson (Kurdziel), Kenneth Johnson, and various other family members.

A visitation for Eddie will be held at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park & Funeral Care, Agave Venue, 6747 E Broadway Rd, Mesa, Arizona 85206, on March 5, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Followed by a Celebration of Life from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

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