David Martin "Dave" Johnson

David "Dave" Martin Johnson, 74, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Olathe Medical Hospital, with his daughter Brittany and son Collin holding his hands. He spent his final days surrounded by friends and family, including his beloved dog, Lacey, and the well-wishes of those who knew him.
Dave was born on November 30, 1950, in Lake Forest, Illinois, to Edwyn "Bo" and Patricia (Olson) Johnson. He married Bonnie (Barrett) Johnson on August 13, 1972; they divorced in 1999. In 2006, he embarked on a loving relationship with Debbie Nash that would last the rest of his life.
Dave had a brilliant mind, especially when it came to numbers. He graduated with a degree in Mathematics from Illinois State University and went on to lead a successful career as an actuary. Over the years, he held roles at Aon, Mercer, Ernst & Young, and Deloitte in Chicagoland, Kansas City, Wichita, and St. Louis. Later in his career, Dave went into business for himself as an entrepreneur. He remained active in his Lake Forest High School Alumni Association, proudly helping to organize class reunions.
Beyond his career, Dave applied his mathematical inclinations to hobby carpentry. He wasn't afraid to take something apart and had the persistence to see projects through with a mix of meticulous schematics, determination, and willpower-plus a healthy dose of sweat-soaked obscenities when an angle or measurement didn't line up as planned. One of his most memorable creations was a wheelchair ramp he built for his father, Bo-a gifted carpenter himself-after Bo became wheelchair-bound. Dave also made countless home improvements and even built the occasional multi-unit terrarium for his children's pet reptiles.
Dave was a talented athlete with a lifelong love of baseball and golf. Growing up on Chicago's North Shore, he worked at Onwentsia as a teenage groundskeeper, rising before dawn to get to the course. His favorite club was undeniably his driver. On the baseball field, his strength and athleticism-especially his arm-stood out. Those talents earned him a spot on the Illinois State University baseball team. He played catcher and second base but occasionally took the mound-a terrifying prospect for batters who knew how hard he could throw, and how unpredictable his accuracy could be.
Dave was also an avid sports fan. Born and raised near Chicago, he spent the first half of his life rooting for the Cubs, Bears, and Bulls. While the Cubs rarely gave him much to cheer for, he had fond memories of the '85 Bears and the Bulls' six championships. In the '90s, he became a Kansas City Chiefs season ticket holder and rarely missed a game with his son, Collin.
Through it all, Dave taught those around him about the importance of having fun, the power of determination, and the joy of loving deeply.
He is survived by his three children, Alyssa (Brian) Jones, Brittany (Bruce) Sopha, and Collin (Lauren Meyer) Johnson; his seven grandchildren; and his loving partner, Debbie Nash, along with her daughter, Meghan (Fernando) Vizcarra. He is also survived by his siblings, Chuck (Laura) Johnson, Cheryl (Jack) MacCarty, Chris (Jim Maxfield) Johnson, and his twin brother, Bruce (Sue) Johnson. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sheila (Mike) O'Neill (2023); his mother, Patricia Johnson (2024); and his father, Edwyn "Bo" Johnson (2000).
Memorial service plans are still being finalized for gatherings in both Leawood, KS, and Lake Forest, IL.