Gary L. Johnson

Gary Lee Johnson of Orlando, FL passed away peacefully at his home on March 1, 2025.

He was born on January 18, 1949 in Forest City, IA to parents William and Elsie Marie Johnson. He was the beloved husband of Barbara Johnson, devoted father to Lisa Marie Johnson and Christina Ann Johnson, and cherished grandfather to William Bryce Haley and Conner Johnson.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Johnson.

Gary graduated from Forest City High School, Class of 1967, and joined the United States Air Force the following year. He was stationed in the USA and also served in Southeast Asia. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged in 1972. Upon his return home to America, he married Sakina Kaochari and to that union were born his two daughters, Lisa Marie and Christina Ann.

He worked at Winnebago and also attended Iowa Lakes Community College, where he obtained his Associates' Degree. He moved to Kissimmee, FL in 1978, where he started working at Walt Disney World. Gary worked there for 26 years before he retired.

In 2008, Gary was remarried to Barbara McKinnon, who faithfully took care of her husband until his passing. Gary accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at Faith Assembly of God by Pastor Wayne Sidley.

Gary enjoyed all forms of sports and was a fierce lover of the Iowa Hawkeyes, New York Yankees, and Minnesota Vikings. He also loved to travel with his wife, and his favorite destination was Mexico, where he and Barbara made yearly trips. In 2022 with Barbara's help, Gary was able to travel back to Iowa to attend his 55th high school reunion where he reconnected with many of his friends. That trip gave him great joy.

He is now resting in the loving arms of his savior, and that is celebrated by his entire immediate family, as well as his extended family - his son-in-law, Michael Haley; former wife and mother of his children, Sakina Johnson; stepchildren, Shawn, Curtis and Leandre; mother-in-law, Mildred Bourne; his siblings-in-law; and special friends, Mohammed Elalami, Anas Lazaar, Walter Geiss, Bruce Holzkamp, Chuck Twait, Leroy Twait, Chuck Conway, and several others with whom he served in the armed forces or worked with at Disney.

Funeral Services will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 6:00 pm at Faith Assembly of God, 9307 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL.  The service will begin with military honors rendered by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Visitation will precede the service on Monday, March 17 from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the church.

A second visitation will take place on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Newcomer Funeral Home - East Orlando Chapel, 895 S. Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, followed by procession to Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US-1, Mims, FL, for committal services and interment at 1:30 pm.

To share your memories of Gary, or to leave a special message of condolence for his family, please visit and sign the guestbook below.