Stephen Johnson

Stephen Douglas Johnson, 81, passed away on March 20, 2024, at Stratford Commons Memory Care in Overland Park, Kansas.

He was born on January 26, 1943, to Douglas and Mildred (Jennings) Johnson and lived in Stoutland and Richland, Missouri in his youth. He attended Stoutland public schools. After graduating from high school, he worked at the Ozark Fisheries in Stoutland and for the Missouri Conservation Commission in Columbia, MO. He eventually became a lineman for General Telephone Company, working his way up to management and overseeing GTE warehouses across Missouri. Steve retired from GTE (Verizon) in 2005 after 37 years.

On October 17, 1969, he married Linda Brumfield of Columbia. They had two daughters, Kristen and Carrie and settled outside of Rocheport, MO, building a home on 18 acres and enjoying life in the country. The foursome took annual summer vacations, including trips to research family genealogy, and enjoyed camping, hiking, gardening and exploring their property.

Steve married the late Lynda (Dringman) on September 21, 1996. Steve and Lynda were members of Grace Fellowship Church in Fayette, MO. He was an active leader of the church's building committee, helping to restore the congregation's 100+ year old church. He and Lynda spent hours tending to their 20 acres in Centralia, MO, gardening, fishing, planting tallgrass, and feeding the birds and deer.

Steve loved history, nature, and the outdoors. He enjoyed Western and Native American history and handmade many reproduction accessories in his free time. He also participated in historical reenactments as part of a Civil War artillery group in Columbia. He loved to travel to the Western U.S. and enjoyed hiking National Parks with his family, especially Yellowstone. Steve was a loving and dedicated son to his mother, Mildred, spending many enjoyable visits at her home in Springfield, MO until his Alzheimer's made the trips too difficult. In 2021, Steve and Mildred moved to assisted living in Overland Park to be near family.

Steve is survived by his loving daughters, Kristen Stalling (Mike) of Overland Park and Carrie Johnson (Matthew Young) of Shawnee; stepchildren ret. Col. David Cheney II (Justin Brooks) of Washington DC; Elizabeth Dosher (Max) of Park City, UT; grandchildren Brett and Madeline Stalling; step-grandchildren Huxley and Harper Dosher; and many special family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lynda, his parents, and a special grandmother Edith "Ma" Jennings.

Visitation will be held April 20th at 1:00pm, at Penwell-Gabel Cremations, Funerals & Receptions Olathe, Kansas, followed by a memorial service at 2:00 pm. Service will be live streamed.

Interment will take place at Hazelwood Cemetery in Springfield, MO, alongside his parents, date to be determined.

Please consider making a memorial donation in Steve's name to the Alzheimer's Association.

Steve's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.

To share a memory of Steve or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.