Thomas Arthur Johnson, of South Beloit, Illinois, passed away on August 27, 2020. Born in Racine, Wisconsin on November 18, 1963 to Arthur and Carol (Page) Johnson. Tom was a red-head and lived up to all the stereotypes as a child. Known for sneaking kittens into his house, trying to ride a slip and slide while standing, and of course always being the kid in school who got in trouble for talking in school, Tom found a way to always test his parents’ tolerance while giving his little sisters a role model to aspire to. From a very young age, Tom lived by the motto “Keep it simple, make it fun” and he did. Tom graduated East High School in 1981 and joined the military. Graduating boot camp for most people would be a right of passage. Tom took pride in being able to graduate boot camp, come home, and toss his older brother over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Tom proudly served in the military for over 15 years. As he told his sons, “First I learned to build a bridge, then I learned to blow one up. Then I learned how to keep other people from blowing them up.”
Tom took time out from the military to marry Sherry Robinson in 1986. Tom adopted his son Josh and had two more sons, Scott and Kevin. He proudly raised his 3 sons with the understanding that “When you have kids, your life isn’t just yours.” For his sons, he gave 11 years as Boy Scout Volunteer and Boy Scout master. Tom treasured that his son Kevin made it all the way to Eagle Scout even saving every scrap of paperwork for the accomplishments.
For everyone that knew Tom, he loved his black bears. Tom believed that his true animal spirit was a black bear. During scouts, Tom received his spirit animal: The buffalo. Tom, not letting this get him down, embraced both his bears and his buffalos. Through his Scouts, Tom met his good friends Deb and Joe Fossel. Tom, ever the dedicated son, followed his father’s footsteps to volunteer at EAA. He served as “gate keeper” for both the kids learning to fly as well as for his father. When not with his kids, friends, or father, Tom spent his spare time reading, writing stories, and watching NASCAR. Tom also secretly was a baker of extraordinary talent. His specialty was "Johnson Surprise," made with an inordinate amount of butter. Tom never did accomplish the challenge of making a Baked Alaska. Through the years, Tom worked as a mechanical engineer, most recently for Thompson Linear.
Tom is survived by his sons Scott Johnson and Kevin Johnson of South Beloit, Josh Johnson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2 grandsons, Christopher and Jordan, granddaughter Jazmin, sisters Theresa Bartsch (Matthew) of Winnebago and Jane Johnson-Carr (Andrew) of Sherman, Texas and special friends Joe and Deb Fassl. Tom is predeceased by his father Arthur, mother Carol, and brother Jay Johnson.
The family wishes to give special thanks to family friend Deb Fossel for all her love, support, humor, and tenaciousness. Tom always knew that he could count on Deb to be there for him no matter what. Tom will be greatly missed by all. Tom, for leaving this world too soon, your little sister regrets to inform you that “I win…it is indeed 2 steps.”
Raymon Zapata
Thomas Arthur Johnson, of South Beloit, Illinois, passed away on August 27, 2020. Born in Racine, Wisconsin on November 18, 1963 to Arthur and Carol (Page) Johnson. Tom was a red-head and lived up to all the stereotypes as a child. Known for sneaking kittens into his house, trying to ride a slip and slide while standing, and of course always being the kid in school who got in trouble for talking in school, Tom found a way to always test his parents’ tolerance while giving his little sisters a role model to aspire to. From a very young age, Tom lived by the motto “Keep it simple, make it fun” and he did. Tom graduated East High School in 1981 and joined the military. Graduating boot camp for most people would be a right of passage. Tom took pride in being able to graduate boot camp, come home, and toss his older brother over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Tom proudly served in the military for over 15 years. As he told his sons, “First I learned to build a bridge, then I learned to blow one up. Then I learned how to keep other people from blowing them up.”
Tom took time out from the military to marry Sherry Robinson in 1986. Tom adopted his son Josh and had two more sons, Scott and Kevin. He proudly raised his 3 sons with the understanding that “When you have kids, your life isn’t just yours.” For his sons, he gave 11 years as Boy Scout Volunteer and Boy Scout master. Tom treasured that his son Kevin made it all the way to Eagle Scout even saving every scrap of paperwork for the accomplishments.
For everyone that knew Tom, he loved his black bears. Tom believed that his true animal spirit was a black bear. During scouts, Tom received his spirit animal: The buffalo. Tom, not letting this get him down, embraced both his bears and his buffalos. Through his Scouts, Tom met his good friends Deb and Joe Fossel. Tom, ever the dedicated son, followed his father’s footsteps to volunteer at EAA. He served as “gate keeper” for both the kids learning to fly as well as for his father.
When not with his kids, friends, or father, Tom spent his spare time reading, writing stories, and watching NASCAR. Tom also secretly was a baker of extraordinary talent. His specialty was "Johnson Surprise," made with an inordinate amount of butter. Tom never did accomplish the challenge of making a Baked Alaska. Through the years, Tom worked as a mechanical engineer, most recently for Thompson Linear.
Tom is survived by his sons Scott Johnson and Kevin Johnson of South Beloit, Josh Johnson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2 grandsons, Christopher and Jordan, granddaughter Jazmin, sisters Theresa Bartsch (Matthew) of Winnebago and Jane Johnson-Carr (Andrew) of Sherman, Texas and special friends Joe and Deb Fassl. Tom is predeceased by his father Arthur, mother Carol, and brother Jay Johnson.
The family wishes to give special thanks to family friend Deb Fossel for all her love, support, humor, and tenaciousness. Tom always knew that he could count on Deb to be there for him no matter what. Tom will be greatly missed by all. Tom, for leaving this world too soon, your little sister regrets to inform you that “I win…it is indeed 2 steps.”