Thomas Gerald Johnson passed on peacefully, at the age of 72, with his wife by his side on July 24, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Tom was born on November 5, 1950, in Madison, South Dakota to Gerald Dwain Johnson and Lee Ann Kathleen Olson (Johnson). When Tom was young, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. He loved growing up there, always enjoying the outdoors, spending time on his grandparents’ farm with his siblings and lots of aunts and uncles. In 1964, Tom’s family moved to Kansas City, Missouri for a brief time and shortly after that they moved to San Marino, California. It was quite a change to come from the Midwest to Southern California in the middle of the era of “The Doors.” He graduated from San Marino High School in 1968 and moved to Lake Tahoe, California, which has always been a place close to his heart.

In 1983, Tom married Suzanne Lovejoy, who had two young children, Camille Chappell Reynolds (6) and James Craig Reynolds (4). They settled in Pleasanton, California, where they lived for 27 years and raised their children. In 1984, on Camille’s 8th birthday, Tom’s daughter Ashley Rachelle Johnson was born to the family’s great joy. As the baby of the family, she always brought smiles and laughs to everyone’s faces. Tom was an avid camper and explorer. He took the family on many camping adventures on the coast and in the Sierras of California. Tom and Suzanne knew how to make camping trips the best, with the set-up, delicious food, and campfires. These trips were frequent and are some of the family’s favorite memories. 

He was also a lover of animals, always having a pet dog and usually a cat or two, who were a central part of the family. When one of their terriers Gracie passed, Tom wore her collar as a bracelet until getting their new dog Talullah. Tom had a very dry sense of humor, unique to him, always looking for the perfect timing to deliver one of his jokes. Depending on who you ask, they were hilarious or “bad dad jokes.” Either way, he would always get a laugh. “So, this horse walks into a bar…” He had the ability to sum everything up in just a few words, narrowing things down to only the essentials. Tom was a true lover of old western movies. His daughter Ashley gave him John Wayne mugs every year. These mugs, along with western art and his bow and arrow, were on display in his home office. Tom and Suzanne moved to Livermore, California after they raised their children and finally settled in Vail, Arizona next to their daughter Ashley and son-in-law Chris from 2022-2023. At the time of his passing, Tom and Suzanne had been married 40 years. 

Tom always had a knack for construction and was an excellent craftsman, running the job from start to finish. In his early twenties, he built a home in Lake Tahoe with his Uncle Wendell; who was more of a brother as he was only a few years older than Tom. In 1983, Tom got his General Contractor’s License and for the next 35 years he managed home improvement and remodels for both upscale residential and commercial properties all over the San Francisco Bay Area. Tom also took pride in remodeling his own homes, creating beautiful interiors and atmosphere for his family. Tom was industrious both on and off the job, always looking for constructive projects to do, whether professionally or in his free time. A true do-it-yourselfer, he would tackle any project, whether it was major landscaping, putting in sprinkler systems, or taking down giant trees. Tom was also a natural athlete and loved golf and both snow skiing and water skiing, making it look easy.

Tom was predeceased by his parents Gerald and Lee Ann, his brother Jeffrey Johnson, and his stepson James. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Suzanne Johnson, his beloved dog Talullah; his daughter and son-in law Ashley and Christopher James Buffoni; his stepdaughter Camille and stepson-in-law Randall Scott Perkins; four grandchildren; his siblings Pamela Wright, Laura [David] Coates, and Steven Johnson; and also aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews; cousins; and friends.

Tom wished for his ashes to be spread in the “cool water” of Lake Tahoe, California. As his family and friends are dispersed throughout the United States, there will be no memorial service, please use the spaces here to share your memories and what you love about Tom.

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/thomas-gerald-johnson/obituary/

Copy