March 30, 2009 - 3 pm to 7 pm - Grace Family Church
March 31, 2009 - 9:30 am to 10:45 am - Grace Family Church
Service Information:
March 31, 2009 - 11 am - Grace Family Church
David F. Johnson, son of David W. “Red” Johnson and Helga Johnson passed away early Thursday morning, March 26, 2009, following a lengthy illness. Graduate of East High School, class of 1963 and attended Lincoln College. Married to Valerie Whitson on November 27, 1993. President of Rockford Valley Anglers Fishing Club, member of Flatlanders Chapter of Muskies Inc. Elected official for over 30 years in Winnebago County. City of Rockford Alderman, 8th Ward from 1971 to 1977 and 4th ward from 1983 to 2005; Rockford City Clerk from 1977 to 1981 and Winnebago County Clerk from 2002 to 2006. Dave was the Reagan Campaign Chairman for Winnebago County in 1984 and a Reagan alternate delegate at the national Republican Convention in 1980. Dave was a small business owner and operator. He helped manage the family-owned Foto Shop business; owned and operated National Auto Supplies; and was a business partner for Knapp Shoes. Dave served as a consumer fraud investigator for the Illinois Attorney General. Dave also worked for Blackhawk State Bank as a business development representative. Dave taught fishing classes and led fishing outings at Rock Valley College for 17 years. He was the recipient of the John Heyl Vincent Award in Community and Continuing Education. Dave also taught fishing classes at Gander Mountain’s Rockford store and was a sought-after speaker for many fishing clubs. Dave was featured on WTVO for the last two summers providing fishing tips as part of the sports report. Dave fished tournaments for Bass and Muskies in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. One of Dave’s fishing partners is long-time friend and nationally known fisherman Babe Winkelman. Dave appeared on Babe’s syndicated “Good Fishing” program in 1996. The segment was taped over three days and features fishing for Largemouth Bass in northern Illinois quarries. Dave was a graduate of Al Linder’s Infisherman School. He was an outspoken supporter of catch and release and supported legislation for size and slot limits. Dave was most proud of his work with a citizens group to provide handicap-accessible buses and curb cuts. The group’s motto was “taxation without transportation.” He was instrumental in convincing the City of Rockford to start ambulance service for its residents. Dave also exposed fraud in the city waste disposal service many years ago, discovering overcharging by the city waste contractors, thus saving the taxpayers hundred of thousands of dollars. David is survived by his wife Valerie; daughter Trisha (Bill) Flosi of Evanston, IL; son Steven (Cheri) Johnson of Rockford; and daughter Nicole (Mike) Seyler of Des Plaines, IL; grandchildren Sofia, Vincent and Gianna Flosi of Evanston and Logan Johnson of Rockford; and numerous cousins and special friends. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2009, in Grace Family Church, 3202 Pleasant Valley Blvd., with Pastor Keith Manley officiating. Private burial at Scandinavian Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 30 and from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, prior to the service, in Grace Family Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Grounds for Life Breakfast Program, 714 Third Ave., Rockford, IL 61104. Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., 1001 Second Ave.
Donald Timmerman
David F. Johnson
January 26, 1944
March 26, 2009