Jacob Johnson
Jacob Carlton Johnson, 40, of Lansing tragically passed away in the early hours of February 28, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. A Celebration of Jacob’s Life will be held from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, March 17, at TJ Hunter’s Banquet Hall in Lansing. In lieu of flowers, a fund is being established at Kerndt Brothers Bank for Jacob’s two-year-old daughter, Leona Johnson.
He was a loving father to his daughter, Leona, and partner to Stephanie, and dog dad to his faithful shepherd/lab mix, Atlas. If one word could describe Jacob, it would be “loyal.” Jacob was the guy that could always be counted on if a helping hand was needed, though felt guilty asking for it himself. His passions included golfing, Friday night softball in Harpers Ferry, spending time on the river, playing on the farm, hunting, nodding his head at the front of the music stage (“that’s upbeat!”), endless games of euchre, and more than anything, enjoying a few cold ones with his friends and family over good conversation.
It is difficult to overstate the number of lives he touched in Lansing and the surrounding community. He seemed to know everyone and rarely passed up a good stop-and-chat when the opportunity arose. He was unapologetically himself, in the best way. Jacob’s elbow nudges after his own jokes, “casual” wardrobe (an understatement), big bear hugs, and half-baked adventures were the thing of legend which will be forever burned into the minds of friends and family and will continue to bring joy to all that knew him, long after he has left this world.
Jacob was born January 6, 1984, in La Crosse, WI. He graduated from Kee High School in 2002 where he played several sports. He especially loved baseball, where he was a catcher, #5 for the Kee Hawks. After high school, Jacob attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids where he studied landscaping and golf course management.
After college, Jacob left the Midwest to spread his wings. This first led him to Phoenix, AZ, where he lived a few years with some close friends (of which there are many stories), then onto Grand Junction, CO, when a job opportunity came about. Next, Beloit, WI, working for the Beloit Snappers.
Eventually, Jacob made it back home to Iowa after taking a job at the golf course in Waukon. Lansing was home and where he was meant to come back to. In his heart, he was a small-town guy.
He is survived by the daughter he adored, Leona; his partner, Stephanie Hawes; his mother and stepfather, Nancy and John Murray; his sister, Jade (Dave Curtis); his sister, Effie (Joshua Lane); his stepsister, Samantha (Evan Ludeking); his stepbrother, Alex Murray (Christina); his nieces: Tatum (Murray), and Grace and Everly (Ludeking); his grandmother, (Joan) Yvonne Lopp; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and his many friends that he considered family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carlton Johnson; his grandparents, Vic and Ceil Johnson; his aunt, Elaine Johnson; and his grandfather, Frank Lopp.
