Thomas Kirk Johnson was born August 20, 1956 to Donald and Inez Johnson in Salinas, California. He grew up in Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Malaysia where his father served with USAID and the World Health Organization. He came back to the United States in high school and graduated from Kennedy High School in Richmond, California. After high school he went on to the University of California at Berkeley, and received his B.A. in biochemistry in 1978. He then attended medical school at the University of California, Irvine from 1978 - 1983.
December 15, 1979, Tom married Judy in Berkeley, California. He finished medical school and went on to a Family Practice residency in Ventura, California. After finishing his training, he practiced medicine for a year in Alamosa, Colorado; for three years in Aberdeen, South Dakota; then came to Turlock, California in 1990 where he was a much loved family physician .
Tom is survived by his mother, Inez Johnson, his wife, Judy Johnson both of Turlock, his three children, Rachel Hughes and her husband John and their three children Avery, Olivia, and Caleb; Amy Bonkoski and her husband Dan and their two children Lacey and Elizabeth; and Eric. He is also survived by three brothers, Jim, Ken, and Paul Johnson and sisters Kathy Baas and Kristy Kolehmainen.
Tom loved to get away to the mountains to spend time with God; His created beauty that declares who He is; His unlimited power reflected in a thunder and lightning storm or a crashing waterfall; the loneliness of the wilderness where there are no other distractions of this world.
As a physician, husband, father, and friend he drew people closer to His Lord with his gentle love of others. This was seen again and again. Kneeling with a young boy in his office and praying; Christmas caroling to families of patients who had undergone great loss; coaching a soccer team; taking dancing lessons before our daughter’s Amy’s wedding; backpacking with friends and family. His gentle spirit, his consistent life preached the gospel. This world is a better place because Tom was God’s faithful ambassador. He represented His Lord well. “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 21 at 11 AM, at Crossroads Church in Turlock.
