Steven Louis "Steve" Johnson

Steven L. "Steve" Johnson was born on July 26, 1944 to Howard W. and Burletta L. (Wold) Johnson in Leland, IL. He grabbed life in both hands and squeezed as much out of his time here on Earth as he could. He grew up on a farm and learned the value of hard work at an early age. He enjoyed raising and showing his sheep in 4-H and spending time outside hunting and playing with his favorite dog Tippy. He graduated from Leland Grade School in 1958 and Newark High School in 1962. Throughout his life he tried to keep in touch with his classmates from both schools and enjoyed catching up with old friends at class reunions. He paid for part of his highly prized University of Illinois education with his flock of 4-H sheep. He was a lifelong Illini fan and went to school at the U of I during the Dick Butkus years.
He enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam War and served as a first lieutenant and platoon leader. He was a proud veteran for the rest of his life and instilled a strong sense of patriotism in his daughters. In 2018 he was fortunate enough to go on an honor flight with the Greater Peoria Honor Flight accompanied by his daughter Julie and was warmly greeted by the rest of his family and friends when he returned home that day. It was a very special and meaningful trip for him.
After returning from the war he taught diesel mechanics at Illinois Central College for 30 years. Steve was well suited to living in the country. He would sometimes buy old used cars to keep around for spare parts and spent many hours fixing his own cars, tractors, and other toys. He was well liked and respected by many students. He was a people person with an excellent memory. He could recall what year his students graduated, who was in their class, where they did their internships, and who their families were. He was excellent at remembering people he met, details about their lives, and could talk to anyone about almost anything.
He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed pulling pranks on his friends and family, especially on April Fool's Day. He loved Old Western movies, particularly spaghetti westerns starring Clint Eastwood. He almost always wore cowboy boots and a western cut shirt (even when he was up on the roof putting on new shingles) except when he was out on his boat. He loved going out on the Illinois River and water skiing with friends and family. His goal when driving the boat was to cause spectacular wipeouts by whoever was being pulled either on skis or the tube. He enjoyed playing with his electric car set in the basement with his buddies and his daughters, old country cowboy songs, beef jerky, high quality toilets (he may have smuggled a contraband toilet in from Canada), and watching shows like Hee Haw, the Lawrence Welk Show, the Illini (football and basketball), and the news.
Other hobbies included off-roading in his Jeeps (ask Sandy or Julie about Blackbear Pass), snowmobiling, camping, hunting, and horseback riding. Steve also volunteered on the Woodford County 4-H horse committee for many years. At the show he would run the entrance gate and greet the kids as they entered the ring. He would always try to calm down nervous kids and ask them if they knew the pattern before they went in the ring.
Steve loved his family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them, going to family reunions, and talking about the family history.
He married Pamela G. Jones in 1970 and had two daughters, Carrie (Matt) Noar of Roanoke, IL and Julie Johnson of Metamora, IL. They divorced in 1980 and Steve later met his wife Sandy in 1997. They married in July of 1998 and shared many adventures and life milestones together including retirement, the loss of loved ones, weddings, the births of grandkids, and a job putting together a training program for technicians for the local 150 Union in Joliet, IL.
Steve passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 80 on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 after a life well-lived. He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Burletta Johnson and his daughter Carrie (Johnson) Noar. He is survived by his wife Sandy of Metamora, IL, daughter Julie Johnson of Metamora, IL, brother Ron (Barb) Johnson of Leland, IL, nephews Randy (Lou) Johnson of Leland, IL, Brad Johnson of Leland, IL, niece Amy (Guy) Spayth of Wheaton, IL, son-in-law Matt Noar of Roanoke, IL, three stepsons Kurt (Miranda) Frye of San Juan Capistrano, CA, Greg (Ashleigh) Frye of McKinney, TX, Jared (Courtney) Frye of Metamora, IL, and seven grandkids.
Christian Union Church in Metamora, IL will hold a visitation on Saturday, January 11, 2025 from 9:30-11:30 AM with a funeral service following at 11:30 AM. A luncheon will be served immediately following the services. Graveside burial will be held at 2:30 pm at Baker Cemetery in Leland, IL with military rites accorded.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Christian Union Church, 925 W. Walnut, Metamora, IL 61548, the Greater Peoria Honor Flight, PO Box 5072, Peoria, IL 61601, or the Parkinson Research Foundation, 5969 Cattleridge Boulevard, Suite 100, Sarasota, FL 34232. Online condolences at www.masonfuneralhomes.com.
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