Tom Dean Johnson passed away on December 10th in Chanhassen, MN after losing his battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Crookston, MN on May 25, 1977. He was the second son of Wendell and Penny Johnson.
He graduated as Co-Valedictorian with the Central High School class of 1995. Tom went to the University of Minnesota Duluth and received his Bachelor of Accounting degree with highest honors in 1998. He stayed in Duluth and earned his Certified Public Accountant certification and worked at McGladery and Pullen. In 2003, he enrolled at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and received his MBA in Finance in 2005. Subsequently, he worked for Ford, Zimmer, HelpSystems and Corro Health in financial leadership roles.
At a young age, Tom found his passion in golf. His love of golf eventually connected him to his wife Michele. Although not a golfer herself, her father Larry golfed and met Tom at golf league. Larry was convinced he met “the one” for Michele and told Tom he had a daughter he should meet. Tom and Michele met in 2000 and married in 2003. (Tom often joked that they might be related since Michele’s maiden name was also Johnson.)
Tom and Michele were blessed with the births of Dylan in 2007 and Isaac in 2009. Tom loved to play golf with Dylan and Isaac and passed along his love of the game to them. Tom was an avid supporter of Dylan and Isaac’s football and basketball games. Tom loved deer hunting, fishing and going to parks with his family. He was a member of Island View Golf and enjoyed playing with his fellow golfers.
Tom is survived by his wife, Michele, sons Dylan and Isaac, his parents, Wendell and Penny Johnson, brother Brent’s family (Leslie, Trey, Seth, Lane), father in law Larry, brother in law Greg’s family (Heather, Brooks, Chloe), and a host of extended family, friends, colleagues, and fellow golfers.
Tom was preceded in death by his grandparents, Silas and Marie Olson and Emery and Bernice Johnson, and mother-in-law Sharon Johnson.
A service to celebrate Tom’s life will be held on Monday, December 16th at St Andrew Lutheran Church, 13600 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie, MN. Visitation at 2:30, service at 3:30, reception to follow. Streaming link available on CaringBridge (Tom Dean Johnson).
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests charitable donations to the charity of your choice.
Tom’s warmth, great sense of humor, and joy he brought to life will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
