The Lowell Johnson

The Rev. Dr. David Lowell Johnson of Lancaster, PA, died on June 20, 2013, at the age of 72 after a courageous battle with leukemia. David was born in Willow River, MN, on September 17, 1940. David was the fourth child and only son of Rev. Elmer and Ruth Johnson (both deceased). He was married to Mary Ann Brenneman November 28, 1968 in Lubbock, TX. They have three children, Peter Christian married to Michele Kewitsch of Edina, MN; Eric David married to Megan Filston of Decatur, GA; and Anna Christina married to Don Slother Jr. of Alexandria, VA. David is survived by his soul mate and wife Mary Ann, his children, and his siblings Sylvia Flancher (Leon) of Ormond Beach, FL, Rhoda Young (Roger) of Columbia, MO, and Phyllis Stevenson (Don) of Plymouth, MN. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Alexander, Andrew, and Liam Johnson, sons of Peter and Michele; Scott, Phinehas, and Leif Johnson, sons of Eric and Megan; and Sidney Slother, daughter of Anna and Don. He is further survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Preceding him in death is grandson Christian, son of Peter and Michele. Growing up in the upper Midwest as part of a pastor’s family, David was steeped in the Lutheran tradition. He graduated from high school in Oberon, ND in 1958, and Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN in 1962. After two years of seminary at Augustana Theological Seminary in Rock Island, Illinois, David worked with the Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, a program managed by the Lutheran World Federation based in Geneva. This was his first international service experience that would define his life and vocation. In 1967, he received his Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. David was ordained in 1967 and first served Christ Lutheran Church in San Angelo, TX (1967-1970). He then served Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX (1971-1977), Maadi Community Church and St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo in Cairo, Egypt (1978-1982), and St. John Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND (1982-1988). From 1989-1997, David served as Representative of the Lutheran World Federation, Department of World Service, in Jerusalem and the Middle East. In this role he oversaw the Augusta Victoria Hospital and related social service programs for Palestinian refugees during turbulent years. During this period, David served on the board of the Global Mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. His international experience, accumulated wisdom, and deep contributions in international and interfaith relations earned him an Honorary Doctorate from the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology and Church Administration in Chennai, India in 1996. From 1998-2005, David served as senior pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Lancaster, where he especially celebrated that church’s storied history and inner-city presence. Early in retirement, he served as Acting Chief Executive Officer and President and later Director of Church Relations at Luthercare in Lititz in 2006-2007. David served as acting regional director for the Middle East in Amman, Jordan for the American Friends Service Committee in 2008. His activities in “retirement” demonstrated his energy and unrelenting passion for connecting with and serving people in Lancaster and across the globe. In each of his parishes, David had a confident and caring style of ministry. David lived a life of deep commitment to marginalized people. He consistently upheld, with rare courage and dedication, Christian values of stewardship and service. As a Christian leader and ecumenical partner, he profoundly contributed to the life and witness of the church in society. David was a popular and thoughtful speaker on the Middle East and Islam, led the Middle East Interest Group in Lancaster, and served on the boards of the Jerusalem-based Spafford Children’s Center, Churches for Middle East Peace, and the Lancaster Interchurch Peace Witness. David’s pride and love of his family was unparalleled, and his influence profound. He opened the world to his West Texas bride and his three children, instilling in them a strong sense of global vocation and purpose. He often reflected with pride on the chosen professions and callings of his children, all of whom are engaged in international development, service and mission at high levels. He defined family broadly by embracing his daughters- and son-in-law, and had an unwavering love and pride for his seven grandchildren. All are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, June 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 West Orange Street, Lancaster (corner of Orange & Pine Sts.), and a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 26 at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity at 31 South Duke Street in Lancaster. Visitation will also be held from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Wednesday before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorials to be directed to either the Lutheran World Federation in Jerusalem or the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund in Lancaster. Donations to LWF can be made by check payable to "The Lutheran World Federation," noting that the donation is made in the memory of the Rev. Dr. David Johnson, and mailed to Rev. Mark Brown, The Lutheran World Federation, PO Box 19178, Jerusalem, Israel 91191. Donations to the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund can be made to The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Lancaster, noting that the donation is made in the memory of the Rev. Dr. David Johnson, to later establish a scholarship in his name.

The Lowell Johnson

June 22, 2013