(March 16, 1957 – June 5, 2025)
Kurt Robert Johnson, 68, passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milford and Bernice Johnson, and his two brothers, Peter Johnson and Lee Johnson.
He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota on March 16, 1957. He is survived by his wife, Vicky Johnson of Stephenville, son Bjorn Johnson of Seattle, daughter Anne Johnson and husband Sean O’Brien of Eden Prairie, stepdaughter Miranda Nash and husband Alan of Stephenville, stepson Jared Boucher of Austin, and grandchildren Michael and Matthew Nash. These two named him “Papa K.” They delighted in his humor, such as telling them that he would cook them some “sauteed mosquito eyebrows.”
As a youth, Kurt was active with the Boy Scouts, as was his father, Milford. Kurt attained the level of Eagle Scout and lived by the values he learned for the rest of his life. In college, Kurt double majored in Music and English and graduated Magna Cum Laude from St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. He studied abroad in Denmark for a year and was always very interested in learning about new cultures. He loved the foreign exchange program and wanted Bjorn and Anne to experience the same, leading to hosting eight different foreign exchange students, including Tony and Khoa who continued to build their lives in Minnesota after High School. Kurt always viewed them as his own “Germasian” sons.
Kurt was a lifelong musician and a spiritual soul with unshakeable faith. He participated and led church music groups in Minnesota and in Texas. He could also burn up the keyboard. Some of his fondest memories were playing with the Funk Junkies, the Clockouts, and the Immediate Blues Band. He played with local jazz groups, and for music productions in both Minnesota and Texas. He also hosted a blues show on the local NPR station, called “At the Crossroads.”
Kurt lived the first 50 years of his life in Minnesota and worked as a computer engineer. In 2007, he met Vicky. They had corresponded online, and he would tell the story that the first time he flew to Texas to meet her, he looked in her eyes and thought “Oh no – she’s the one!” Since he was able to work remotely, that meant a move to Texas. Theirs was a true love story. “Redempti Amour” (Redeemed Love) was inscribed on their wedding rings. He always called her “my Queen” and Vicky declared that she had won the lottery.
There was no better father than Kurt. Despite the distance between him and Bjorn and Anne, they talked several times each week and he was their rock. After moving to Texas, Kurt quickly made friends and became more of a Texan than many Texans. The thing about Kurt was that he made friends with everyone in all situations. He was kind and generous and always seeking to make others feel good. Even in the hospital in his last days, as he was cared for by nurses who were originally from many countries, he would Google how to say a few words to them in their native languages, which would always delight them.
Kurt’s request was to be cremated and some of the ashes to be scattered on his beloved Lake L’Homme Dieu in Alexandria, Minnesota. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 20 at 6pm at Kurt and Vicky’s home, 135 Greenbriar in Stephenville, Texas. Another celebration will be held on Friday, June 27 at 1pm at the Shakopee Community Center in Shakopee, Minnesota.
The family would like to extend special thanks to our communities for their outpouring of love and support. One condolence mentioned “an army of friends,” for which we are sincerely grateful. These also include many other close family members and Kurt’s closest friends, hailed as “brothers from another mother.” For those in Texas, we request that expressions of love and remembrance be made as donations to Meals on Wheels (erathmow.org). Kurt volunteered to deliver meals for them, and with his characteristic charisma, he brightened the day for many. For those in Minnesota, we request that expressions of love and remembrance be made as donations to Minnesota Teen Challenge (mntc.org).
We are all so grateful to have been a part of Kurt’s life and his love will always live in our hearts!
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