David Johnson

1939 - 2016

1939 ~ 2016
David Paul Johnson passed away peacefully Friday, March 18, 2016, surrounded by his family after a valiant two-year battle with MDS in his home of 41 years, fighting to the end.
Dave was born August 1, 1939, in Murray, Utah to Paul Harold and Gertrude Johnson, their oldest child. He was a long-time resident of Murray, Utah, where he attended Arlington Elementary, Murray Jr. and Sr. High Schools. His grandfather, William Johnson, owned the first meat market in Murray. Dave was a successful and respected businessman in the Salt Lake Valley; he loved the art of the deal. Selling rocks in elementary school, then a paperboy at age 12, he worked in the construction industry; and it was while working on a road crew near Monticello, Utah that he met the love of his life, his wife of 43 years, Ellen Kathleen Collard. Later Dave became a successful real estate investor and owned Honda Suzuki of Salt Lake. He sold it in 2007 when he retired.
Dave and Kathy were sealed in the Jordan River Temple on December 29, 2002. They traveled the world and enjoyed a wonderful life together. They loved to hunt and went to Africa fourteen times. Dave was a pilot, and the two of them traveled in their private plane all over the United States. They loved summers on their boat on Yellowstone Lake and their home in Mesquite, Nevada.
Dave was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude Smith Johnson, and father, Paul Herold Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Ellen Kathleen Johnson; sister, Donna Lynn (Victor) Barnhouse; son, Gary Paul (Lisa) Johnson, and daughter, Donna Kay Childs; 9 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.
The family would like to express our thanks to the Utah Cancer Specialists and CNS Home Health and Hospice.
Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at 11:00 AM at the Midvale East 2nd Ward, 7250 South 300 East, Midvale, Utah. Family and friends may call Monday, March 21, 2016, from 6 - 8 PM at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State, Murray, Utah, and from 10:00 - 10:45 AM at the church prior to services. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park. Online condolences at www.jenkins-soffe.com.