Darrell Lee Johnson, Ph. D., 63, of Castalia, Iowa died Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Darrell Lee was born on January 30, 1956 in Ames, Iowa to Milton Lee and Myrtle Jane (Engelby) Johnson. He was baptized in Winnebago Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills. Darrell was confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkader, Iowa. He attended school in Elkader, graduated from High School in 1974. He earned degrees beginning with Bachelor of Science-Math from Iowa State University (ISU) Ames, Iowa 1979, Bachelor of Arts-Philosophy ISU 1982, Master of Arts-Philosophy Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois, 1985, PHD- Philosophy Southern Illinois, Carbondale, Illinois.1992 .
Darrell taught Introductory and lower division Philosophy at the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho from August 1994- August 1997. He then went to Texas and taught seventh grade math to students that English was their second language. He was also a High School Math Teacher at an A+Academy (Charter School). In between teaching jobs he also worked at a pet supply store, appliance salesman at Best Buy and Home Depot.
Darrell was a true dog lover. His first two dogs were Zebra and Sugar Bear and then he started to take in stray dogs and some that were injured. These dogs became his family. At one time he had seventeen dogs and was also fostering some more. When he moved back to Iowa in 2009 he had ten dogs. Darrell had a few short term jobs after moving to Iowa and has been working for Cabela’s for the last 8 years.
He is survived by his father, Milton Johnson, Monona, IA; Step Mother, Marilyn; his twin sister, Diane (Tim) Fisk of Monona; sisters, Marlys (Garland) Seibert, Clive, IA, Emily Batista, Philadelphia, PA; brother, Steven Johnson, Temecula, CA; Step Sister, Cynthia Brictson, Los Altos, CA; Nephews, Brian (Debra ) Seibert, West Des Moines, IA, Travis (Jennifer) Torkelson, Farmersburg, IA, Daniel (Tiffany) Torkelson, Farmersburg, Andrew (Katie) Torkelson, Lisbon, IA and Charles Fisk, Monona, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Rachael Seibert, Des Moines, IA, Russell Seibert, Des Moines, Isabella Torkelson, Quentin Torkelson, Veda Torkelson, Oliver Torkelson, Wyatt Torkelson, Vincent Torkelson, all of Farmersburg, Oscar Torkelson, Lisbon. and his two dogs, Ralph and Barkley.
He was proceeded in death by his mother, Myrtle; brother in law, David Batista; step brother, James Brictson; step sister, Lynn Wood and eight of his dogs, Zebra, Sugar Bear, Fir Ball, Curley, Eppy, Rusty, Little Buddy, Christy and nephew dog, Shelby.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 pm on Sunday, July 21, 2019 at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Monona, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Monday.
Memorial Service will be at 11:00 am on Monday, July 22, 2019 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa with Rev. Erika Kielstrup as the officiant.
Inurnment will be held at a later date.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monona, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.