Dennis Walter Johnson

Dennis Johnson, 79 years, of Madrid, IA, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2025.

Denny was born on July 17, 1946 to William “Bill” and Betty (Thomason) Johnson in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Denny graduated from Mason City High in 1964. He took many college classes throughout his life including a specific calculus class at Drake University because he was trying to figure out the algorithm to the Iowa Lottery. He was so focused on winning the lottery that he even had license plates on his car that said “WNT2WIN”.

Denny was an electronics enthusiast. While in middle school, he started his first business adventure by fixing the radios and tv’s of local residents in Mason City. This interest in electronics flourished throughout high school where he was part of a CB radio club. We’ve all been blessed with the many stories about how he was on the CB radio in high school communicating with the police while his fellow high school friends were out drinking and driving. Such a narc!!!

Then electronics led Denny to a career that spanned working for Des Moines Flying Service (he became a pilot!) to becoming an entrepreneur owning his own companies–both Johnson Communications and A2Z Hobby Shop. He later went on to be employed by MidAmerican Energy where he was a leader and dedicated employee
for 24 years.

Denny was a wonderful son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. If you knew him, you knew that his job and working were his passion. And while working was important, he never missed events that mattered to his kids. Denny taught his kids, above all, to be hard workers and to make people laugh by being exactly who you are. His favorite thing was to engage literally anyone in a debate about politics–but you better know your facts because anyone who wandered into this conversation learned quickly that he knew his facts!

But most importantly, this man cared for family and his beloved fur babies. Everyone blessed with knowing Denny knows that he was a big teddy bear. He was a great jokester that no one escaped from. You never knew what he was going to say…and he loved that.

Denny is survived by his wife, Marvella Johnson; his daughters, Cheri (Jody) Judge, Heather (Don) Johnson Gornick, Kelly Kokemuller, and Nancy Johnson; son, Kirk (who took the journey with his dad 14 hours later) (JeanAnn) Green and son, Mark (Brenda) Sullivan; sister, Barb (John) Adams; sister-in-law, Denise Johnson; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was blessed with many grandchildren including: Carley and Cody, Parker and Reagan, Makaela and Aaleah, Adam, Tyler and Cade, Robyn and Courtney, Collin, Brooke and Kevin, Brandi and Krista, and Cheyne; and great-grandchildren, Aaydan, Liam “Jiggy”, Elijah, Lorenzo, Camdyn, Elena, Owen, Olivia, Ethan, Arya, Arabella, and Zaylie.

Denny was preceded in death by his son, Dennis Edward “EJ” Johnson; his father and mother, William Johnson and Betty Hollingsworth; his infant brother, Bernard; and his brother, Greg Johnson.

Visitation will be held Thursday, November 13, 2025 from 5-8 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA and the funeral service on Friday, November 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Madrid Evangelical Free Church, 2243 S. Ave. in Madrid, IA. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@madridefreechurch. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Madrid, IA.

Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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