Obituary of Larry Johnson

Reverend Larry Richard Johnson, 88 years, was born in Hillsboro, North Dakota, on September 8, 1935, to Alfred and Irene (Shaver) Johnson. He went to be with his heavenly Father on January 19, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Larry was the seventh of ten children and grew up in Devils Lake, North Dakota. He attended college at the University of Jamestown where he graduated in 1958 receiving his BA in history. He met his wife Patricia (Hughes) Johnson there and they married on June 13, 1959 after Pat graduated from college. They moved to Iowa in 1960 where he attended Dubuque Theological Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1963. They then moved to Blue Earth, Minnesota, where he took his first pastoral position at First Presbyterian Church until 1968. They then moved to Grand Forks, ND, where he was the associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church before following the pastor to Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he was the associate pastor from 1969 to 1975. He left the Presbyterian church to start The Open Door, a Christian counseling center, in Dec. of 1975 and God led him to start a church in 1980. He retired in 2003 after 40 years of ministry. Larry was a champion for families through many different avenues helping to change the spiritual and political atmosphere in Iowa.

For Larry, relationships were everything. He considered his relationship with his Lord and Savior to be of utmost importance followed by his family and friends.  Larry viewed his mission field as wherever he was at any given moment, often praying for the Lord to bring people across his path to minister to. Larry had a major impact on many people’s lives.

Larry is preceded in death by Pat, his wife of 39 years and many beloved family members. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Marilyn Allen; his four daughters Pattar and husband Tom Ertz and their 5 children-Elyssa and Matt McDowell, Josiah and Ruth Ertz, Natalie and Dakota Murphy, Jessica Ertz and Andrea Ertz and fiancé Trevor Albert;  Karna and her husband Tracy Steel and their 5 children-Spencer and Tereza Steel, Cody and Aneta Steel, Tyson and Bethany Steel, Reilly Steel, and Lincoln Steel; Becky and her husband Troy Weppler and their 6 children Blaine and Morgan Weppler, Kyle and Kaitlin Weppler, Kirsten and Richard Curtis, Jordyn and Nick Wade, Maecee and Hayden Herrig and Trissa and Josh Santel; Sonya and her husband Steve Flatland, Cole, Sadie and Luke Lampe, Logan Flatland, and Megan Flatland; and his 25 great grandchildren.

Burial arrangements were provided by Gay & Ciha Funeral Home. Visitation will be March 2, 2024, at 9:30am followed by the Memorial Service at 11:00am at Creekside Bible Church located at 1410 44th Street, Marion, Iowa. (Hosted by Larry's daughters)