Daniel "Dan" Arthur Johnson

A Celebration of Life service will be held in the chapel at Grace Community Church, 3215 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, Texas at 11 a.m. December 22, 2023. Daniel “Dan” Johnson age 71, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Dan was born to David and Gerry Johnson on December 11, 1951 in Evergreen Park, Illinois. When he was in high school, he moved with his family to Mission, Texas. He graduated from Sharyland High School in 1969. He received a scholarship from Phillips Petroleum to study Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M and he was a proud member of the Fighting Texas Aggie class of ‘73. He was in the Corps of Cadets where he formed many lifelong friendships. Upon graduation, his job with Phillips led him to work around the world including the North Sea off the coast of Norway and on the Amazon River in the jungles of Peru. After 4 years of working overseas, he took a job with an independent oil company in Dallas. He met Paulette during this time and they married in 1978. They were married for 45 years. In 1979 he took a job in Mobile, AL, where Paulette was from, and they lived there until 1981. His career brought him to East Texas with a job in Tyler. He worked for 2 independent oil companies until he had the opportunity to form his own company, Jacobi Johnson Energy, with a partner. Dan’s relationship with Jesus was reflected in the way he lived his life and treated others. Missions were an important part of his family's life from an early age. He was actively involved in the children’s ministry at Grace and The Mentoring Alliance, and supported other ministries. Over 25 years ago, Dan and Paulette, along with other newcomers to Grace, formed a community group. Some of Dan and Paulette’s most treasured relationships were formed within this group and many are still a part of this community group today. No one loved the lake more than Dan. His love of the water led him to build a home on Lake Palestine when he first moved to Tyler. When he retired, he built a home on Lake Tyler where his grandchildren enjoy spending summers. Dan and his family and friends have such fond memories of camping on lakes and hiking in the mountains. Besides his own 3 children, the number of kids who learned to ski behind Dan’s boat are too numerous to count. Dan used the lake as a way to bring people together for food, friendship, and of course fun. Besides slalom water skiing, Dan loved to snow ski. In fact, Dan’s first time skiing was while working in Norway. His love of skiing lives on in his children and grandchildren. Later in life, Dan’s greatest joy was being Poppa to his 6 grandchildren. Even though they were spread out from Houston to Seattle, Dan was intentional about spending time with them and traveled to see them many times a year. Most recently Dan’s whole family spent a week together at Olympic National Park in Washington making new memories. Dan could do anything, and if he couldn’t do something he could figure it out. He could build it, fix it, grow it, climb it, ski it, design it, nurture it, teach it. Dan’s most recent project this past summer was installing a new boat lift. He is remembered by his wife Paulette, daughters, Monica Wheeler (Ben) and Rebecca, and son, Nathan (Mariana); grandchildren, Henry, Simon, and Lucas Wheeler; Miles, Morgan, and Max Johnson. He is also remembered by his Siblings, David (Janice) Johnson, Mark (Bonnie) Johnson, Karen (Randy) Davis and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Shoreline Christian School, 2400 NE 147th Street, Shoreline, Washington 98155.

Daniel "Dan" Arthur Johnson

December 11, 1951 - November 15, 2023