Thomas Richard Johnson

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Thomas Edward Johnson

Thomas Edward Johnson, 51, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at his home. He died of natural causes. He was born Dec. 14, 1952, in Topeka, to Albert and Beth Johnson. He lived his entire life in the Topeka area and was a lifelong member of Bethel Baptist Church. He graduated from Seaman High School and attended Washburn University. He was an accomplished artist and won several awards for his work. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and archery. He also loved animals and had raised several much-loved dogs and cats. Mr. Johnson worked for his father at the family-owned Johnson s Service Center and eventually went into partnership with his father, then took over the business. He became well known in the North Topeka area for his mechanical abilities and continued to run his business until recently when he was forced to retire due to medical reasons. He is survived by his mother and father, Albert and Beth Johnson; a brother and his wife, Bill and Linda Johnson; and a sister and her husband, Donna and Nick Calabrese, all of Topeka. He also has three nephews, Matt Johnson, Columbia, S.C., Zeke Calabrese, Topeka, and Corey Calabrese, Lawrence; three nieces, Kristi Zakrzewski, Irmo, S.C., Jamie Johnson, Charlston, S.C., and Angie Cain, Topeka; and two great-nephews, Phillip and Michael Cain II, both of Topeka. Mr. Johnson will lie in state from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel in North Topeka, and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Bethel Baptist Church, where the family will receive friends. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral chapel in North Topeka. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, outside Newman, Kan. Memorial contributions may be given to Bethel Baptist Church, 4011 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka, Kan. 66617.