Gary Kevin Johnson, M.D. graduated from this life on September 17, 2016, when he passed away from plasma cell leukemia. Kevin was born January 13, 1961, to Dr. Gary Hall Johnson and Diane Miller Johnson. Kevin attended elementary school in Los Angeles, California, and then moved to Holladay, Utah. He graduated from Olympus High School and served an LDS mission in Southern France. Kevin received his bachelor’s degree and attended medical school at the University of Utah. During medical school, he met the love of his life, Julie Scharmann, in the psych ward. Fortunately, they were both doing rotations—Julie in pharmacy and Kevin in his third year. Kevin and Julie (whom he affectionately called “Jane”) married in 1989 and moved to Iowa for Kevin’s internship and anesthesia residency. They returned to Utah in 1993 when Kevin began his anesthesia practice at LDS Hospital. Kevin loved medicine and truly enjoyed practicing anesthesiology. According to Kevin, he was a master gas passer.
Kevin and Julie celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary in June, and have three beautiful children; Danielle, Alek and Aimee. As much as Kevin loved medicine, his family was without question, his proudest achievement. He was a quiet and humble teacher, father, doctor, husband, uncle and friend.
Kevin lived a life full of compassion and adventure. Family and friends were everything to him. He loved skiing and biking with anyone fast enough to keep up. He lived his life like he rode his bike, with strength and super-human endurance. He also enjoyed fishing, doing the daily crossword, playing piano, speaking French, celebrating holidays and attending family parties, spending time with his wife and attending school programs and sporting events with his children.
Kevin is survived by his wife Julie and children Danielle (23), Alek (21), and Aimee (17). He is also survived by his mother, Diane, brothers Darren (Suzy) and Brian (Christine), sister Alison (Ian) Adams, and numerous nieces and nephews. We suspect Kevin is now fishing with his father, Dr. Gary H. Johnson, who preceded him in death.
Kevin’s career was cut short by medical issues that will hopefully be better understood in the future with his help. A doctor, teacher and humanitarian to the end, Kevin has requested that his brain be donated to the Mayo Clinic, where his neurologic condition was finally diagnosed. Kevin handled the challenges that cut short his career and life with dignity, quick wit, grace, and subtle humor. He was always more concerned about how his condition was affecting others, rather than himself.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Kevin Johnson Memorial Fund to help with the costs associated with funeral services and sending him to the Mayo Clinic for further study and research. Submit donations to: gofund.me/gkjmemorialfund.
A memorial service will be held at the Holladay 28th Ward, 2625 Milo Way, Holladay, Utah 84117. Friends and family are welcome to visit at 11:00 a.m., funeral services will begin at 12:00 p.m.
Kevin’s ashes will be interred upon completing his final grand rounds of teaching service at Mayo Clinic.
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