DAVID P. JOHNSON "DJ"

life story

1969

David's Story

It is with great sadness and deep love that we announce that ,David, age 83, passed peacefully 8/28/25 at home in Bloomington, Minnesota of congestive heart failure and Stage III chronic renal insufficiency.

Preceded in death by his father, mother, sister and many aunts and uncles and cousins.

Born 9/26/41 to Arthur G. Johnson and Louise E. Johnson in Minneapolis, MN. He is survived by devoted wife of 56 years, DoRayne Johnson (Hendrickson), sons Arthur and Andrew, grandsons Bailey (Mariah) and Parker, and nieces Sarah Sullivan, Anne Jbara, Alison Henry. And nephews Joe Kelly and Peter Kelly. Also brothers-in-law Mike Wilkinson and Kevin Henry.

David loved fishing, golfing, tennis, reading, creative writing and most of all his family. He was a very curious person and embraced lifelong learning that included extensive research into whatever he studied. He built an extensive book collection ranging in topics from astronomy, Korean War, World Wars, all religions, and psychology just to name a few.

David was an avid fisherman who enjoyed fishing Lake Minnetonka, Lake Tomahawk in northern Wisconsin and made numerous trips to Lake of the Woods and even the Arctic Circle.

David was an avid and accomplished golfer who played regularly with his buddies Buzz (Doug) Fredin, Rich Peterson, Bob Martineau, and Dave Reedy and others. Taking annual trips to Arizona together. He felt so lucky to golf with his sons and Grandson Parker.

David's family enjoyed vacationing in Naples, Florida where his parents lived overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. His family also loved the North Shore, making annual trips to Lutsen and Duluth. Golfing with Art, Andrew and Parker. A recent proud event came last summer when his grandson, Bailey, married his childhood sweetheart Mariah.

David's recent passion were the bumble bees visiting our deck in Bloomington. He researched what flowers would attract the bees and found that the calamentha flower was a big hit with them! He sat for hours watching them hover from flower to flower to fill up with the nectar. Feeding the birds was also extremely important to David, keeping the feeders full was a priority and watching them visit our feeder on the deck where he sat was a constant pastime. He loved being outside on the deck.

David grew up in north Minneapolis with his parents and younger sister Susan on the "Victory Memorial Drive". David's Dad, Art Johnson (Sr) was an EVP of the Gamble-Skogmo Co. when he retired in 1977. His mother was very active as a volunteer at North Memorial Hospital and their church.

David was an active and curious child, attending Camp Braemar in northern Minnesota at age 5. He loved camp where his love of fishing began. He was named "Best Camper" on a regular basis. He attended Breck School during his elementary years.

He attended Robbinsdale High School and after graduating in 1959 attended Gustavus Adolphus for two years. He earned his letter in tennis there. Then transferred to University of Minnesota to continue tennis team involvement. He was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. He graduated in 1964 with BA degree.

He worked in sales/marketing at Insurance Company of North America (INA) in Minneapolis where he met his future wife DoRayne Hendrickson (Doie). They married in 1969. He left INA and worked for BC Zeigler selling investments. That led him to Wausau Wisconsin where he and Doie lived on Lake Tomahawk for two summers. He had enormous success in fishing, that resulted in stringer after stringer of walleyes, earning him regular appearances in the local paper proudly holding his catch. We still have two 10 pound walleyes mounted on our walls, plus a 47" 26 pound muskie.

They moved back to Minneapolis to start a commercial real estate endeavour with his brother-in-law Ken Kelly. But that was short lived, they went to work at Coldwell Banker Commercial Real Estate 1973.

David was in top 5 sales for the Coldwell Banker Twin Cities Office in 1980 and top sales person 1982.

In 1982-1991 David and good friend Jim Miller formed American Commercial Properties.

1991-2002 David joined JBL Companies as EVP. More commercial property business.

David retired from Commercial Real Estate in 2002 to begin writing historical fiction and working part time at Cub Liquor in Plymouth and then St. Louis Park West End locations. He enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life during those days.

David was very active in his community during the years 1979 - 2003. He was on the YMCA Board of Minneapolis Downtown Y 1988&1989 and Chairman of the Board 1990&1991.He chaired the capital campaigns for annual support of the New Downtown Y in 1986-1988.

He was active in supporting inner city youth by being a member of the Circle of Discipline in 1999. The COD was a non-profit group catering to at-risk youth in the Lake Street area of South Minneapolis.

David was a devoted husband, father, grandfather known for his kindness, humility and quiet strength, he valued family above all. He was quick to praise and give complements and show genuine interest in friends and loved ones that resulted in deep and lasting relationships.

David would say that the best times were when his family was all together for the Sunday family night dinners or celebrating all the holidays together. That was the best. His family agrees, they all thought that was the best, to have David with them! They will miss him dearly.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the members of the Park Nicollet Hospice for their extraordinary care and compassion.

A private family gathering to celebrate David's life will be held in November.