Donald Earl Johnson

Don Johnson peacefully passed away on Feb. 5, 2025 in Sun City West, Arizona at the age of 93. On April 25, 1931 Don was born to Edith Nelson and Louis Johnson in a Waterford, Wisconsin farmhouse. He began driving a tractor at age 9 and was the youngest of four siblings. Don attended grade school at Colonel Heg, and high school at Racine County Agricultural School, where he played on the basketball team and graduated in 1949. After the family barn burned down, Don's parents retired, moved to Arizona, and Don enlisted in the Army. In 1954, he was proud to be part of the Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command, previously called the 10th Mountain Division, at Camp Hale in Colorado. Fellow soldiers encouraged Don to attend college. Thanks to the GI Bill, he attended Phoenix Junior College then the University of Arizona. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1960 and was hired by AiResearch in Phoenix. Don married Cathy Brimhall in 1963, and in 1965 daughter Lisa Shea Johnson was born in Mesa. They bought a house in Scottsdale and Don earned his master's in engineering from Arizona State University in 1968. Although AiResearch changed names to Garrett, Allied Signal then Honeywell, Don spent his entire 37-year career there, retiring in 1997. He worked in the lubricated components group designing bearings and gears for main propulsion engines, primarily for aircraft. His biggest achievement was overseeing and improving all bearings and gear boxes for the TFE731 turbofan jet engine, recently placed in the Smithsonian. Don married Barbara Johnson in 1991 and gained four grown stepchildren. He and his wife enjoyed moving to many different homes in Arizona as well as Kansas and Idaho. They lived their final years in Surprise, Arizona where Barbara passed away in November of 2023. Don was a handyman happy to help others. A true engineer, he was always reevaluating and perfecting. He would continue touching up trim even after his home was sold. His hobbies included golf, hiking, history, traveling, socializing, following stocks and the aerospace industry. He also enjoyed family, wildlife, big dogs, navel oranges, his Scandinavian heritage, freshly mowed lawns and burgers grilled outside a ski lodge. Don's kindness, positive attitude and love of life contributed to his longevity. He was predeceased by his wife Barbara; parents Edith (71) and Louis (107); siblings Quata (John) Hanson, Lois (Delbert) Ladwig and Louie (Lois) Johnson; stepdaughter Amy Rigg, step-grandson James Rigg; nephews Del Ladwig and Robert (Sandy) Hanson and niece Gail Evans. Surviving Don is his daughter Lisa Shea Johnson, three stepchildren Mike (Mary-Beth) Rigg, Sue (Mark) Hogue and John (Laura) Rigg; seven step-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, his former spouse Cathy and nine nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10 a.m., Fellowship Square, 16477 W. Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374. A service with military honors will take place at 1 p.m., National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 2929 E Pinnacle Peak Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024. Don passed away from lung fibrosis. Donations in his honor may be made to the American Lung Association at lung.org. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald, please visit our floral store.