Thomas (Tom) G. Johnson
March 5, 1935 - April 10, 2022
Obituary
Tom was born March 5, 1935, in Carpio, North Dakota and passed away peacefully at home in Renton, Washington, on April 10, 2022.
He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Bobbie; his daughter Kathleen; son Tom; and his brothers Joe (Carol) and Dale (Micki). He is also survived by 3 grandsons, Mike, Leif, and Zach and 1 great-granddaughter, Savannah. Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Hazel and his brother Richard.
He spent his childhood in Carpio and Minot, North Dakota and in Seattle, after his family moved to Seattle in 1950. Tom maintained ties to North Dakota, visiting friends and family over the years and was always on the lookout for classic cars and parts when he was there.
Tom started building homes for a local lumber company before becoming an apprentice carpenter and switching to commercial construction. He worked at Absher Construction before moving to Ferrell-Penning, Inc. in 1972. He retired from Ferrell-Penning, Inc. in 1995. He was a proud member of the Carpenters Union, Local 30, and earned his gold card as a 50-year member in 2021.
He had many hobbies, including dirt bike racing as a member of the Jolly Rogers Motorcycle Club. Tom also drag raced in Johnson & D’Aprile Fiat that he and his partner built. His favorite hobby was anything to do with classic cars, particularly Chevrolets. He was turning a 1937 Chevy Coupe into a Street Rod. He had many cars and trucks over the years, including a 1938 Chevy Master Deluxe Sedan, a 1950 Mercury Sedan, a 1951 Mercury 2-door Coupe, and a 2005 Chevy Silverado Pickup. Tom loved going to car shows and swap meets, always looking for car parts and making new friends.
He had a real zest for life and easily made friends. He treasured every family member and friend. Tom is deeply loved and will be missed by all of us.
A Celebration of Life is planned for the summer.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you consider donating to a favorite charity in Tom’s memory.
Everywhere I look,
There’s a memory of you.
Precious treasures. All the gifts you’ve given me through the years. Gifts you brought back from your travels when you thought about me.
Everywhere I look, there’s an abundance of memories of you. You will never be forgotten.
In my mind, I see you throwing a toy for Chewey dog to bring back to you. How excited he’d be when you’d come over. How I wonder if you’re together now, so excited to see each other again.
I hear your voice, encouraging me when I face a task I’m afraid may be too much for me. How you’d say ’What’s your last name?’ How you tenderly wiped away my tears as a child and I realized that when I hurt, you did too. The sporting events your kids and grandkids participated in where you showed up and cheered us all on.
How I miss you now. The corny jokes you’d tell. How hard you worked. How you threw yourself 110% into anything you ever set out to do. How much you loved animals. How sentimental you were. The delight you had in giving and receiving presents.
There is no one like you. There never has been and I know in my heart, there never will be again.
https://vimeo.com/348906914?gclid=CjwKCAjwx46TBhBhEiwArA_DjNAJjwzWcnO3upEUIgA8wIzPeMpPDP_qNZ9SRpKRFtkGTaA5fT6l9hoC5VYQAvD_BwE
Kaye Columbia
Love and prayers to Tom’s family. A friend to all he will be greatly missed.
I’m still in disbelief your gone grandpa. You’ve always been there and taught me so much I believed you’d outlive us all. You work and worked into your later years and always taught me what it was to work and to work hard. Your so positive, gentle, took me to task when I needed it, told me what I needed to hear even when I didn’t want to, your gentle and kind and loved me more than anybody.
I’ve always tried to do what I thought you would do or expect and now your gone there is that hole in my heart that only you could fill and I feel lost…but, I know you wouldn’t want me to be somewhere sad and sometimes I think your gonna call me any minute and ask me if I wanna go to lunch. I know what you’d expect and will do my best to do it. We’ll take care of Grandma me, Zach and Mike don’t you worry. Your not hurting anymore and I heard Jesus needed a Race Car Driver in Heaven.
It’s not goodbye Grandpa but more less I’ll talk to you later…we will go to lunch again soon! I love you!
Uncle Tom was the strongest man I ever knew
Tommy was my mom Arlene’s cousin . My mom passed young , and Tommy always took the time to check in on me , and the Gauthun’s. I so loved hearing the stories about my mom , especially her childhood in Carpio. Keep North Dakota in your hearts … I think he would love that .
Hi Bobbie,
Although we lost track of each other, you were both in my fondest memories. Lots of fun and laughs and you were very kind to me.
Sending hugs and love.