Calvin Osborne Johnson

Calvin Osborne Johnson, 64, of Idaho Falls, passed away March 5, 2022, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center due to severe burns resulting from a house fire.

Calvin was born February 3, 1958, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Lon Howard and Bessie Mae French Johnson. He grew up in the Osgood area, attending New Sweden Elementary and Central Junior High School. He graduated from Skyline High School in 1976, and then attended Eastern Idaho Vo-Tec, certifying in the Automotive Technology program in 1977.

On June 22, 1978, he married Lorna Beth Rasmussen in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. Calvin and  Lorna made their home in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where they raised their two children and Calvin worked as a mechanic.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved being outdoors, it didn’t matter what he was doing, as long as he was out in the open air. He could always be found tinkering with, fixing, or building anything that required a motor.  He loved cooking, camping, ATV’s, and jet skiing, but to him there was no greater joy than riding his sled with his family and friends surrounded by God’s beauty.

Calvin had an adventurous soul.  He didn’t shy away from anything.  If he didn’t know how to do something, it didn’t matter, he’d figure it out.  He had a heart of gold and was very compassionate and always thinking of others.  He would drop anything to help anyone, no matter the time of day or the effort needed.

Calvin suffered a stroke on December 23, 2017 that was devastating to him and his family, but Calvin kept his spirits high and made the best out of the situation, as he did with everything he encountered throughout his life.  His stroke just meant that instead of offering physical help, like he was able to before, he reached out to others by phone calls and visits.  His visits were usually accompanied with a sack of potatoes, straight from the field or the cellar.

Calvin is survived by his wife, Lorna Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID; daughter, Shanell Johnson (Doug Hollist) of Logan, UT; son, Justin (Emily) Johnson of Idaho Falls, ID; brothers, Eugene (Cindy) Johnson, Clifford Johnson, and Kenneth (Julie) Johnson, all of Idaho Falls, ID.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lon and Bessie Johnson; his little brother, Verle Johnson; and long time friends, Claude and Emily Elsberry, Chuck Decker, and Ron Harker.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue in Idaho Falls.  The family will visit with friends from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Burial will be in New Sweden Cemetery. Services will be broadcast live at www.woodfuneralhome.com.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU Burn unit at EIRMC for the countless hours and personal care they gave to Calvin.  They would also like to thank the Red Cross for their kind support and Jerry Gardner with Alternative Health Clinic.

Many have asked what they can do and the family requests that if you are able to please  donate blood.  Calvin received several blood transfusions in the last two weeks.  There is no greater gift than to be able to save a life with the simple act of donating blood.  Please donate blood in Calvin’s memory.

There will be an opportunity to share memories about Calvin at the funeral services.  If time doesn't permit, please email Shanell at snailj@yahoo.com with any memories you have of Calvin.  His family would love to compile these to keep his memory alive.