Ronald David "Ron" Johnson

1952 - 2021

Ronald "Ron" D. Johnson was born in Tracy, California, to W.T. and Mary Johnson on June 10, 1952. Ron passed away on July 31, 2021, at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital with wife, Lorrie, and friends by his side.
Ron grew up in Rancho Cordova, California, and upon graduating from high school in 1970 he received multiple college scholarships for running track and studied at American River College. He was prompted to move to Alaska with his girlfriend in the early 1970s, after his brother (who was living in Alaska) sent him an Alaska Magazine with an article written by Bud Nelson called, "Take Em' Along." Little did Ron know that his future bride was the young girl featured with her family in that exact magazine article. Ron and his girlfriend brought a son into the world named Zephriah on Oct. 2, 1975.
After working various laboring career paths, he joined Local 942 and worked on the trans-Alaska pipeline construction. Upon returning from the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup he proposed to Lorrie Nelson, and they were married in July 1990. Ron and Lorrie had a baby girl named Dani on June 6, 1991.
Ron loved the outdoors of Alaska, as he loved to hunt and fish around the state.
Nothing made him happier than taking his daughter Dani on different adventures, especially on trips to the Nelson family cabin on the Delta Clearwater River. At the cabin and at home - and everywhere he went, Ron had a unique way of making his mark with either duct tape, spray paint, or his Nelson-Johnson logo. He had an alternative way of making his presence known either by leaving behind treasures for people or just by leaving his mark.
Ron was especially proud of his daughter Dani's engagement to KC Chissus, and he was very much looking forward to walking her down the aisle this Aug. 21, 2021. After KC proposed to Dani, everywhere that Ron and KC went together, he would introduce Kenneth as, "my new son-in-law."
Ronald is preceded in death by his mother, father, and his son, Zeph. He is survived by his wife, Lorrie, daughter, Dani, brother, Don Johnson, grandson, Derek Beaver, his Aunt Jean, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A potluck celebration of life will be held for Ron at the Nelson family home, 606 Bentley Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska, from 2-5?p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021.