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David Johnson Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for David Johnson
Carol Luttschwager
June 23, 2022
Oh my sweet David, I miss you every day. You were such an inspiration to me. I could never thank you enough for being there for me when my husband, Al Luttschwager, had Glioblastoma. You gave me so much courage. You were always there for me.
My two trips to Kauai were fabulous...imagine waking up with chickens on your bed..such fun, and swimming with your Mom,Elinor. She was such a gem.
I am so glad you had Mark in your life and we´re married. He loved you so much.
David I miss you more than words could ever say, but I know I will see you again. Thank you so much for being part of my life. I love you, David.
Carol Luttschwager
June 23, 2020
h, my dear David, I miss you so much. We had so many good visits and long chats, especially when my husband Al had glioblastoma Phase 4. You were always there for me and my family. Ill always cherish our trips to Kauai....was exciting to live right next door to Pearce B....007!
Later I met, and became engaged to Kaeon, only to loose him to prostate cancer. Once again, you were there holding my hand and walking me through it!
You were one of the most beautiful person I ever had in my life. It gives me great comfort to know I will see you again when I join you and m loved ones in my Eternal Home.
I miss you my dear friend.
Carol Luttschwager
June 23, 2019
My dearest friend... I cant believe it has been so long since you passed into the Loving Hands of our Lord. I think of you often and all the strength you gave me when Al was going through his cancer. On the bright side, I remember the fabulous trips to Kauai, what fun trips...and all of those chickens.
I miss you David, you were a Special Gift to all that were fortunate enough to know you
April 5, 2015
Happy Birth Day and Happy Easter. Love you always.
Mark Ray
January 15, 2015
it's been 8 months now and I still and always will, miss you. I have kept my promise to take care of you Mom. And am working on my promise to take care of me. You are my greatest love. I know I will see you again. Until I do flap those beautiful wings for me.
Julie Wagenvoord
August 19, 2014
You will be missed. You were such a kind man. Thank you for your compassion.
Jeff Luttschwager
August 18, 2014
I'm better for meeting you, Thanks David.
Martha Shirley
August 17, 2014
Dear David; I didn't know you in person, but only through my dear friend, Carol Luttschwager. She had nothing but great things to say about you and what an inspiration you were to her. It seems every email she wrote about you was so full of joy. You must have been on amazing person. Sorry I didn't get to meet you, but thanks to Carol and her notes, I guess I really did. I was so happy to hear about you and Mark, just sorry you were not together longer.
Carol Luttschwager
August 16, 2014
Oh David...I just can't begin to express the sorrow I have at your passing. I know you are in a better place and free of pain, but you left so much pain in the hearts of those you left behind. I will always cherish all the times you spent with Al when he was going thru his treatment and finally death from brain cancer. And, you even brought joy to the Kancer Klub every week. Most of all I remember the trips to Kauai with you and your friends. Remember the crazy chickens that were all over the island? And how about the Double 007 star that lived right next door...how cool was that? You were so kind to me the last week of Al's life, and the morning of his death you opened up your home to all my kids and even fixed up a fantastic breakfast. Fresh squeezed orange juice, homemade muffins and freshly ground coffee.
I remember sitting on your beautiful patio and throwing oranges for Shasta to fetch. She loved it. I loved you as a friend, David and am so glad you had Mark in your life. What a great pair you two were. Rest in God's loving arms, my friend....say hi to Al when you see him, and continue to watch over all of us that you left behind.I am so sorry you didn't get to meet Wayne, my husband that I married in 2007, you two would have really liked each other and you both shared brilliant minds. I love you, my friend.
August 11, 2014
Oh David I'm so lost without you. I'm trying but I miss you so much. I wish I could have gone with you. My heart is broken in so many pieces. There is no one in this world I have ever loved more. Please keep a watch over me. I love you.
Juli Gpff
July 11, 2014
Dearest David, I wish that I could be with you and your friends tomorrow at your Memorial Service. I know that you know that I will cherish the memories that we shared as friends and neighbors forever. You will be in my heart forever. Saying a little prayer for you and those of us that are left behind, but only for a while.
Diane Lauren
July 4, 2014
I only knew David through Nancy and Pam but their love for him was imparted in their words and the looks on their faces when they spoke of him. I only wish I'd been able to know him in person to experience him myself. my light and love go out to Nancy and Pam and all who have lost a treasured friend and partner.
The happest day of my life!
Mark Ray
July 2, 2014
May you rest in peace in Gods arms my knight in shining armor, my Husband my one true love. I will always love you.
Ana Maria Lopez
July 2, 2014
Know that you are much loved and much remembered.
Warmly-
Nancy Wilsted
July 1, 2014
On 5/28 Mark and David arrived for their annualish visit. When Tucson gets too hot, they come and stay with us for a couple of weeks, and when Colorado gets too cold, Pam and I head for their beautiful home in the desert. This back and forth has gone on for many years.
But during this visit, David was not doing well. Despite needing oxygen, he wanted to do everything - he repeatedly mentioned taking the cog railway up Pikes Peak to have a doughnut. We nixed that outrageous plan.
On June 3rd we drove down to Del Norte and stayed two nights with our friends, Michael and Judy, who have a beautiful place near Wolf Creek Pass. The altitude there is about 8,000 ft. David did not want to take the oxygen concentrator, but we delivered an ultimatum: the oxygen goes or nobody goes. Even with the oxygen, he struggled, but he went with us into the mountains where we saw elk and big horned sheep. He also wanted to see the Great Sand Dunes, which we visited on our way home. For the longest time he stood looking up at those dunes, and I could tell he wanted to climb. I'm sure that with the tiniest bit of encouragement, he would have tried, but we were holding him back, sort of like in the old Westerns where the cowboys try and prevent a barroom brawl.
Then on the 6th, we were invited to have dinner with our friends Rich and John. We enjoyed a garden tour and the dinner was fantastic. After dinner Rich played the piano and we sang. For one of the songs, David was the only one who knew the words in German. I can still hear hear the sweet sound of his voice. We talked about how jokes can be insensitive, and then, of course, we proceeded to tell all of our most politically incorrect jokes.
Then, David leaned forward as if he was going to stretch out on the floor, which is something he often did when he was getting tired. He said "Oh", not as if he was in pain, but more as if he was surprised. Then he collapsed onto the floor. Mark and I were able to turn him over, and he was not breathing. We called the paramedics and asked Mark about advanced directives, which David did not have. Pam and I started CPR. We did a pretty good job, I must say, even with our sorry old knees and backs, but when the fire fighters arrived they took things to a whole new level. There were 7 of them, all men, and all pretty young and buff. The strength of their compressions almost rolled his entire torso, and they used the defibrillator many times. Although David's heart would not hold a rhythm, he continued to have a carotid pulse. They worked a long time and finally took him into the ER where he was admitted to the Coronary ICU.
The cardiologists follow a protocal which is designed to cool the body and preserve metabolic functions. It's not possible to predict any outcome until after the body is re-warmed, and that takes about 24 or more hours. It was a long 24 hours. They administered an electroencephalogram, which established that David had suffered brain damage, although the doctors, at that point, could not predict the extent of the damage. The outlook was bleak, and we debated whether it was cruel to put him through more. With all the years of cancer treatment, he had been through so much, but the evening doctor encouraged us to wait. Give him a chance, she said.
Early on Sunday morning, to our astonishment, there sat a warm David, eyes open. In response to questions, he was nodding yes or no, and I could tell he knew we were with him. He wanted to talk but couldn't because of the respirator. We were jubilant! We enjoyed a hopeful, if brief, interlude. Then, at 11 am, his pulse started dropping. And dropping. This time there was no bargaining, but how grateful we were for the opportunity to say good-bye and to be with him. At about 11:20 am and surrounded by a sobbing Mark, Noel, Patrick (flew up fromTucson), Pam, and me, the monitor went to zero.
We're shattered, as you can imagine. Mark stayed with us until David's ashes and the death certificates became available. It was good because it gave us a chance to process and talk.
The cardiologist said the immediate cause of death was something called Sudden Death Syndrome. It tends to occur among people who have had open heart surgery and who have stents. David had both, plus a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, a family history of heart disease, one kidney, and of course, the renal cell cancer which was originally diagnosed in 1990. The man was made of iron. He used to say he'd reached a point where the only parts he could brag about were his teeth and his bladder.
David loved Colorado. LOVED Colorado! While Mark and David were here for this visit, David told Mark he was feeling so badly that he knew he could never visit again. We'll never know if David had any conscious intent, but in a way, it's as if he stayed here with us.
I loved David for the myriad reasons that everyone loved David - his spirit, his humor, his unfailing friendship, but I will especially miss his sweet and empathetic support. David and I knew one another for forty years, and we had, as we used to say, "been married to the same man, but not at the same time". Something about our long term connection made it possible for David to know me and see me as no one else has. When things were the most difficult, or when they seemed impossible, he invariably offered the most insightful and tender support and encouragement. He could see me, and he reflected back an image which was softer and kinder. It offered more hope.
And so, to my friend, David - I wish you the clear sailing which you have tortuously earned. May you forever be laughing at your own awful jokes, political correctness aside. And may you breathe with ease whilst climbing that dune, free now from illness and pain. I do always have you when I need you. I know how to reach you.
Kathy Jacobs
June 30, 2014
As is clear from his remarkable obituary, David was an amazing person, a self-taught renaissance scholar, a comedian, an incredibly generous friend. Whether at work, on TAMA camping trips or "mucking the pool" in Maine he kept all of us laughing! So sad that he is no longer with us and really sad for you Mark that you were married for such a short time! So glad that you decided to tie the knot though!
Linda Black-Scarbrough
June 30, 2014
When you and Phillip were together I would visit you two often. The kindness and love you had for each other brought hope to my life. I will truly miss you my dear brother-in-law… love you .. RIP.................Linda Black-Scarbrough
Heidi Geel
June 29, 2014
David was a wonderful man that I never had the opportunity to meet with face to face. We met online in a kidney cancer chat room-he responded to my many questions and helped me more than he can imagine. I will miss him.
My condolences to his family and especially to his husband, Mark. Thank you for sharing this wonderful man with the rest of us!
Mary Greene
June 29, 2014
Oh, man, will David Johnson be missed! He was everything expressed in his obituary, which was excellent. Loving regards also to David's husband Mark especially, and to his "church pals" David & Patrick. Oh, how I miss the Old days at St Michael's, and David Johnson. God Bless you
Lupe Ortega Mendoza
June 29, 2014
When David worked with Bell Co.I enjoyed his company, made the day go by fast.
Lisa Swanson
June 29, 2014
David was truly an original. His wit and insight will be missed. Glad I had the opportunity to know him and learn from him. Our lives are definitely enriched because of David!
Lynn Bartlett
June 29, 2014
David was the most original, real person I ever had the pleasure of knowing and calling my friend. I cherish the memories of long livingroom chats and walks in the backyard garden.
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