Steven Johnson

Larchwood, IA Steve Johnson, 52, of Fresno, CA formerly of Larchwood, IA, passed away December 19, 2007, in Fresno, CA, after a courageous fight with cancer since August 2005. Funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 26th at Grandview Covenant Church, rural Larchwood. Burial will follow at the Grandview Covenant Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 AM until the hour of service at the Grandview Covenant Church. Steven LeRoy Johnson was born Sept. 21, 1955, the son of Calvin and Darlene (Wettestad) Johnson in Sioux Falls, SD. Steve was a graduate of West Lyon High School in 1973 and the electrician program at Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon, IA in 1974. Growing up on a farm near Larchwood, IA, Steve helped with field work and raised livestock. In the 80's Steve began crop adjusting for various agencies and traveled throughout the country on jobs while continuing to farm and do custom electrical work. Partnering with his brother, they eventually became owners of land that has been in the family since 1891, and together ran Johnson Ag. Services Inc. Steve was on the board of the Grandview Covenant Church, and a past member of the Granite Thresherman's Association. He donated his electrical skills and put in the wiring of the addition to the Grandview Church. He worked for The Hartford Insurance Company in Sioux Falls, until he transferred to Fresno, CA in 2003, and ran their Crop Division on the west coast until earlier this year. History, motorcycles, nature and traveling were Steve's lifelong interests. He was a past board member and photographer of the Fresno County H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) He enjoyed the outdoors and hiking, making many trips to the three national parks near Fresno, where he used his love of photography, capturing many scenes on the trails of Yosemite National Park. He also had a scuba diving certificate and was pursuing his underwater photographers certificate. Diving adventures Steve experienced include diving in Hawaii on both day and night dives including diving with manta rays. He's also explored underwater ship wreckage off Catalina, CA. Other adventures he experienced included kayaking, skydiving, hot air balloon riding, and white water rafting. In January 2005, Steve took a study trip to Egypt through the University of Fresno and had a wonderful time exploring the history and sights of the area. Steve's other passion included technology. He became quite proficient with anything related to the computer and mass media presentations. He continued to help family via remote connections to some of their computers from California. Through video hook up to their computers the Johnsons were able to see and talk with each other to help cross the miles and stay in touch throughout Steve's illness. Grateful for having shared his life are his parents; Calvin and Darlene Johnson, Larchwood, IA; brother Joe Johnson, Larchwood, Sisters; Deb Peters, Tucson, AZ and Diane Johnson, Denver, IA;special friends Rebecca and Warren Johnston, Fresno, CA, and a host of other relatives and friends. In Leu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hinds Hospice, 1616 W. Shaw Ave. Suite B6, Fresno, CA 93711-3513; Grandview Covenant Church, 1114 140th St., Larchwood, IA or the Humane Society.