Richard D. Johnson

Richard D. Johnson, 85, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday August 8, 2023. He was born February 7, 1938, in Freeport, to Dick and Esther (Buss Johnson).

After his mother's passing in June of that same year, he went to live with his aunt and uncle John and Lillian Miners and after he was a year old he went to live with aunt and uncle Jesse and Irene Drake who became his guardians. Having grown up as a city farmer with Jesse and Irene and after his uncle Jesse's passing in 1951 he and his dad, Dick raised hogs in Forreston and he helped Dick with the fuel delivery business.

Rich graduated from Forreston High School in 1956, attended the University of Dubuque, and Heavy Equipment school in Braidwood, IL. He served in the Illinois National Guard 1960 to 1966. In 1960 he started his own business after teaching himself to stripe and letter and paint vehicles, especially trucks. His classroom was the open road while he was driving trucks around the country for various companies. That is where he picked up a lot of his design ideas for painting and lettering.

Rich married Diane Nesemeyer at Forreston Grove on May 22, 1965. He moved to Freeport where he started a Ziebart franchise and continued to paint and letter trucks and signs throughout N. Ill and So. WI. area. He was known for fancy truck paint and lettering jobs.

He always had a love of fancy cars and trucks and still loves to go to car and truck shows with his various vehicles. His love of the car/truck hobby turned into a lifelong business. He was always tinkering on cars from a very young age and had a love of operating machinery. Rich spent a lot of time helping his father-in-law on the farm planting and harvesting.

Spending his 3rd grade school year in Benson, AZ inspired his love of the west and big trucks. He spent many years off-roading with 4x4's and dirt bikes in the mountains of Colorado.

Rich was taught at an early age by his aunts Lillian and Irene for the Love of the Lord which has guided him through all the trials and tribulations of life. His memberships include, Forreston Grove Church, and ATHS.

Rich is survived by his wife Diane, daughters Tiffany (Vaughn) Stamm, Roscoe, and Kimberly (Steve) Holste, Freeport. Grandchildren, Sierra Stamm, twins, Collin and Hannah Holste.

Preceded in death by parents Dick and Esther, special aunts and uncles Jesse and Irene Drake, John and Lillian Meiners and Harry Buss who helped Dick raise him after his mother's untimely death.

Visitation will be 10:00am until time of funeral service at 12:00pm on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at Forreston Grove Church 7246 North Freeport Road Forreston, IL 61030 with Reverend Lyle Greenfield, officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.

A memorial has been established in Mr. Johnson's memory.