Kyle Anthony Johnson

Kyle Anthony Johnson passed away suddenly on Nov. 8, 2021, in St. Joseph. He was 35 years old.

Kyle was born July 30, 1986, at the Air Force base in Mountain Home, Idaho.

He made an enormous impact on all who knew him. Building friendships came naturally to Kyle. To him, a stranger was only a friend Kyle hadn't met yet. He never shied away from taking on an adventure or helping someone in their time of need. He had a gift of combining those two attributes.

Kyle traveled to Costa Rica and Nairobi, Kenya, where needs were great, and help was little. He developed selfless relationships with the locals and did whatever work needed to be done. His Kenyan travels resulted in an unswerving desire to help the children of Happy Life Children's Home in Nairobi. Kyle did so by walking from Washington to Texas to raise money for improvements to that Children's Home. He made countless friends along the way who will never know the impact they had on the children of Nairobi.

Kyle gave of himself, and enjoyed building up others. This was a reflection of Kyle's heart. Kyle also enjoyed the lighter side of life. Touring the country with his Phish family and following a band that brought him so much joy. He could be found retelling a crazy story or living one out in real time with his friends and family. His travels may have kept him away from his roots, but they were always close to his heart.

Kyle attended St. Paul's Lutheran Church and School in Stevensville. He later transferred to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Wyoming, Mich., then, in 2005, Kyle graduated from Rogers High School in Wyoming, Mich.

He enlisted in the United States Navy in 2006, where he proudly served aboard the USS Ronald Reagan.

Kyle fulfilled a dream of earning a culinary degree from Lake Michigan College in Niles. His education continued as he also attended Johnson and Wales University in Colorado and North Carolina. Kyle enjoyed spending summers in Montana helping family members with their concession business along the Pow-Wow Trail.

Left to treasure Kyle's memory are his mother, Marie (Bruce) Hartman; his father, Jeffrey (Kathleen) Johnson; his sister, Korin (Morgan) Sugden; his grandparents, Louis and Jeanie Larson, and Margaret Johnson; as well as many close friends and extended family members. Kyle was preceded in death by his grandfather, Charles Johnson; his grandfather, Bob Ebensteiner; and stepfather, Justin Heyn.

A celebration of life service will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, with a visitation one hour prior.

In lieu of flowers, make a donation to Happy Life Children's Home in Nairobi, Kenya, happylifemission.org.

To leave an online condolence, visit www.starks-menchinger.com.