Paul Johnson Obituary

Paul Arthur Johnson, 77, passed away at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center on December 13th, 2023 due to complications from heart disease. Paul and his identical twin brother, Peter were born October 3, 1946 to Wayne Arthur and Winnie Pauline (Bjorkman) Johnson in Ladysmith, WI. He dedicated his life to ministry after graduating from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN and becoming ordained in his home church, Hope Lutheran Church in Ladysmith, WI. Paul served five churches in Wisconsin before becoming the Assistant to the Bishop of the La Crosse Area Synod of the newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Paul first became aware of God’s call to ministry when he was thirteen years old and he believed he was called to ministry "to deal with the expectations, hopes, troubles, fears, judgments, and brokenness in the lives of people." Paul married Yvonne Hanmann while he was in seminary, and they had three children together, Larisa, Amy, and Choi.

Paul faced challenges later in life that altered his family and career trajectory when he was outed as gay. Despite these challenges, Paul remained devoted to his calling as a minister. He moved to Iowa where he found avenues outside formal church structures to continue helping people. It is also in Iowa that he met David Llewelyn who would become his partner, and when law allowed it, his husband. Paul finally found the United Church of Christ (UCC) to be open and welcoming which led him to become a pastor in the UCC. After 17 years out of church ministry, he accepted calls to serve at four different UCC churches in central Iowa before retiring. After his husband’s death, Paul found another partner, Fred Breen, of Des Moines and joined Fred's church, Plymouth Church-UCC in Des Moines. Paul was an active member in the life of Plymouth Church until his death.

Beyond his career in ministry, Paul pursued various hobbies and professions, including home improvement and woodworking, cooking, reading, writing his autobiography, and Shiatsu massage therapy. He was actively engaged in his community's political scene and became a respected member of the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, twin brother, and his husband David.

He cherished his family and is survived by his children, and grandchildren: Larisa and Hai Tong and their twin children, Violet and Elliot, of Folsom, CA; Amy and Vincent Keenan and their children Eizabeth, Owen and Lilya of Metamora, IL; and Choi and Maureen Johnson of Katy, TX; and their mother, Yvonne Cade of Holmen, WI. He is also survived by his partner of almost 11 years, Fred Breen, of Des Moines, IA and his niece and family, Addie Johnson Talbott and Daniel Talbott and their son Bailey of Los Angeles, CA.

On December 30th, 2023, Paul’s visitation will be at 10 am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11 am at Plymouth Church, 4126 Ingersoll Ave, Des Moines, IA . The family invites all to join for remembrance and fellowship followed by a light lunch.

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