Dear Family, Friends, and Loved Ones,
We are so brokenhearted to announce the passing of our beloved son, brother, uncle, and dear friend Joseph Johnson. He passed into the presence of the Lord in his sleep in the early hours of Thursday, May 22nd from a seizure. We are gathering for a memorial service to honor and celebrate his life, first in California and later on Maui.
California Service:
Sunday, June 1st at 3 pm at Ecclesia Church in Hollywood
Hollywood Pacific Theatre
6433 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90028
If you feel inspired to share, whether it be in word, music, or prayer, there will be an opportunity. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ecclesia Church (compassion ministries).
Maui Service:
Hope Chapel Maui, Kihei, HI
Date and time to follow.
Your faithful friends,
Joe and Karen
25 comments:
Karen and Joe
Just wanted to let you know, You are loved very much and You are in everyones prayers
Keeping the Faith
Susan Haynes
Johnson family... words are so insuffecient in trying to express the groaning of my mom's heart.
Know you are constantly prayed for!!! Know that every place you enter, every thought you have, every tear that falls, every gut twisting slash of grief...has already been covered in prayer by the Body of Christ!! You are loved by the Creator...the King...the Almighty...the Great I Am...
the shiraishi's...spencer, ulu, riley, spencer boy, quinn
Dear Joe & Karen,
We got the sad & distressing call in Agoura Hills, CA about Joey's death & graduation to heaven from Ryan on Thur May 22 close to midnight.
Joseph Neal Johnson - was one of the genuine & authentic "3 Amigos" for Christ. We loved him dearly.
Would to share some key promises of Scripture, which are meant to comfort & give us hope at times like this.
Psalm 116:15 "Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints"
Joey Johnson is = "Safe in the Arms of Jesus". . .
Karen - it has been almost 28 years ago, when you made a precious pillow with those words "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" -
for Jennifer Elizabeth, who died at birth on July 15, 1980 and went to be with the Lord in Heaven.
Joey, was 1 year older than Jennifer, no doubt - she was one of the first to greet her "big bubba" on his arrival in Heaven.
I was thrilled to see the entire Johnson Clan & Joey again recently in Waikiki Beach, Oahu. We had lots of "fun & food & fellowship" with numerous conversations.
Especially, when we sat together for Ryan & JoAnne & Jeremy's graduation lunch & celebration.
Since, Shirley & I are looking
'LW' to re-locate to the Pismo Beach area in May 2009...I said to Joey,"lets do some Dodger's games" He replied,"let's do it !!"
I hugged Joey "one last time" and told him, "I loved him...was proud of him and would continue to pray for him."
Joey like David had a tender-heart for God and God's people, which was nurtured & flamed by you both.
Joe & Karen - the Lord has blessed & carried you all these years - as you both been faithful and have given & loved & blessed & come along side countless individuals & couples & families.
Now - you need to let the Lord continue to love & bless & carry you - through "all" the individuals & couples & families who love and care deeply about you and your family.
May Joey's triumphant passing to Heaven "remind" us all that - we are all "one day" closer to Heaven, which is a good & loving & solid promise for all believers in Jesus Christ.
Joey will not come back to us. As believers in Christ - we shall one day go to Heaven - to be with Christ & Joey...forever...
God's Love & Comfort & Hope,
Kevin & Shirley Cox - Dyersburg, TN
I have always had such a special place in my heart for all of the Johnson fam. I was deeply heartbroken over hearing about Joey, even though he and I were never all that close. Three years age difference seems like eons when you're in Jr. High.
I remember running into him at the WRC banquet a couple of years ago, having a great conversation, and thinking... I wish I had more time to get to know him. He turned into quite an interesting dude... not the little kid I remembered.
My grief is for Joe, Karen, Jaime, JoAnne, and the kids. You guys shared much aloha with me over the years, in moments that meant a lot to me, more then I've ever expressed to you all.
I look forward to getting to know Joey better... later. :)
Love to all of you.
Chad
Joe and Karen,
We have been thinking and praying about you, more or less nonstop, since Saturday morning. We will be there Sunday.
Paul Reisser
Joe was a fellow Baldwin Bear and a fellow USC trojan. He would check in on me from time to time when I was first getting into college, him being the older one, to make sure that everything was going smoothly. Always a friendly smile and a selfless demeanor.
He will be missed.
Joe and Karen,
You once told me "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"; which I find to be so true about Joey. He was the best of you both put together.
I think of him with that afro and small rose colored glasses at one of our 50's parties - playing music with Joe. Only Joe just had on a bandana as there was no hair left on his head. Everywhere you were with Joe and Joey music was involved. So much alike.
I think of him with his face and body painted red and gold at a USC game wildly cheering with his friends. And you two, such proud parents, carring on the fan base taking off to Oahu wearing your red and gold, long after Joey graduated, to support the Trojans againist UH. Such shared enthusiasm by all of you.
Each time I saw Joey I was always greeted with a warm embrace making me feel as though I had some importance to him. Very similar to the way I feel when I see the two of you at work, or socailly or at church.
Joey was always there for every family event. Some of great importance or just to celebrate a milestone birthday. Similar to the way you two traveled to the east coast so often to be with your kids and grandkids. He modeled your love of family.
I recall the time in Mexico. Joey sat shotgun in the small car I drove. We spent hours in that car. The comversations got deep at times. The car load had dissagreements about social issues such as abortion and alternative life styles. Joey gave his opinions and always complimented you, Karen, on your work with the Problem Pregnancy Center. He was really proud of you. And so you two are never afraid to address the tough issues either. Something Joey was comfortable with too because of your openess.
As Jesus was somewhat unconventional here on earth I suppose Joey's entrance into heaven might create some uncoventional, spontaneous moments too. The sounds of worship may just take on a new flair. Prehaps a new rock band made of those we know who also, at all to young an age, entered heaven.
You raised a wonderful son. Loved by all who knew him.
I don't know how to help you make it through the moments of each day. My heart is broke as I think about what you are going through. You are the two that so freely offer your love, compassion, comfort, encouragement and support to those that are hurting. Now it is our turn, regardless of how inadaquate we might feel. We send our love to you. We're praying.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has known what God has prepared for those who love him."
We love you,
Toni & Jason Spence
Music man like pops
People lover like mama
The best of you both
Papa D, Nana Karen, JoAnne, Jaimee, Rachel, and family...
We have been praying about how to encourage you and be there for you during this time of such sorrow and grief. Our hearts aches for you all. We can not know the depth of your pain but we share in your sadness and grief at the loss of the amazing man that Joey was. You were truly blessed to have him in your lives (Duh!) But what a testament of who you are as parents/sisters to have a son/brother that Loved and Lived life so well! You are all a blessing to our family in ways we can't even begin to take time to explain. We will continue to diligently pray for your all as you go through the grieving process. We are praying that..." the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. " Romans 15:13
We love you and are looking forward to hugging you all (and what ever else you need) when you return to Maui!
Much Aloha!
The Stanley's.... Michael, SaraJane, Braxton, Quintin & Ellis
Dearest Karen & Joe,
I am so sorry for your loss of your beautiful Joey. Even as I started this blog for you, I kept hoping I was in a dream and you would call me or email me back that it was all just a big mistake, and no, it really didn't happen. And for the first few days, I kept checking my email for that. But it's been many days now, and this is for real.
It's hard to put into words what I feel. I don't know that there is even anything to say...don't know what to say. I don't know how you feel, but I imagine it is the worst thing you have ever felt. So I just pray for you, that the God of All Comfort would hold you close to Him.
I just now realized that the word joey is also the word for baby kangaroo. So that must be why Joey had a kangaroo paw picture on his myspace, and his username was roopaw. What a sense of humor! That makes me smile through the tears and it gives me a glimpse of what your days must be like right now...tears as your heart aches and smiles as you think of your sweet son.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Love,
Lisa Bryant
Joe and Karen,
My heart and prayers are with you and will continue. I remember seeing Joey when he was here a week and a half ago. I thought to myself "Joe and Karen must be so pleased with Joey". Even though I didn't know him personally, I just loved it when Joe and Joey worship together.
We are all here to support you and love you back through this trying time. Thank you for all you both have given to so many of us here at Hope Chapel.
In Christ's Love,
Ken Wallen
Karen, Joe, Joanne and Jamie,
Remembering the growing up years in Wildwood when Joey was the cute, energetic little brother who sometimes tagged after our girls. We have been thinking of all of you so much these last few days and sending our love and support your way.
Ann and John
Just wanted to tell you all how much I am thinking of you and of Joey, the mischevious little brother at all the sleepovers. Sending you all my love.
Jen Prehn Kious
Dear Joe, Karen, JoAnne & Jaime,
We love you, miss you, and you're constantly in our thoughts and prayers.
May you feel God's loving arms wrapped around you and carrying you through this time.
Much love,
Cliff & Jeri
Joe & Karen and Ohana
My prayers and tears are with you; I love you all sooo dearly and will be forever grateful to your ohana for the amazing impact it has made on me and my family....Joey was truly amazing!!! He's soo lucky to be worshiping Jesus in heaven with all the saints! Praise God for the way you raised him!! what an impact he made on soo many lives!!! Much Love Danielle Brown
Karen, Joe, Joanne, Jamie,
I am so glad that I was able to be there with you. Wish I could be there on Sunday, but I will be seeing you once you get back to Maui. Thinking of you every day.
Love,
Salina
Joe Karen Jaime Joanne & Family,
Our thoughts are with you all. We pray the love of God holds you during your journey through grief, may your heart find peace and comfort in the promise we have through Christ that we will be reunited with our loved ones again. Joe and Karen you have been supportive to all us Lauer's in so many ways, we are here for you and praying for your faimily.
With love and hugs,
Mike, Jen, Eden, Jade, & Ashlynn Lauer
Dear Karen and Joe and all,
Just to let you know that you are in our thoughts every day. Words are so difficult at times like this - we cannot even attempt to understand the pain you are going through right now. It makes us realise that every day is precious.
Although we will not not be with you at the funeral in body, we will be there in spirit and thinking of you all.
With much love,
Chris, Sue, Joe and Beth Forrester
Virginia Beach
Karen, Joe and family....
A note to say we are continuing to lift you all up in prayer and we love you so very much and thank you for the special family that you are. We know our precious Lord has His arms wrapped around you all comforting you thru this very sad time. Wish we could be there to hug you too! All our love and hugs to you.... Lori and Wes
Dear Joe and Karen,
You are being loved through prayer, even by those of us who haven't seen you in a very long time.
We cry for you, and imagine your pain, but only God knows the depth of your sorrow. May He grant you His peace, knowing that you will ,someday, be in his arms with your precious Joey once again.
Niki and Al
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Keoni Morrell
Dear Joe & Karen,
How powerless we are to say or do anything except express our sadness for your loss. We are all ohana, whether through many or few years bound together in His love. We love you guys and we are praying for your family.
Knowing He has us all in the palm of His hand.
Love
Mike & Susan
Dearest Karen, Joe & all the Johnson Ohana:
John & I just couldn't believe the email when it came thru. All the years of fervently praying for safety for your special forces sons-in-law, and never dreaming your own son might leave us so unexpectedly. I wish those so very precious to us could stay longer than they are granted sometimes. Our Joey is here with us, and we all have been praying for you two. We who have been blessed by the enriching and healing love God pours through you both, can know surely your children CARRY that a hundredfold!
(I love the picture that Liza posted of Joey surfing. May the spirit of God & Joey's Very Present Love still embrace and encourage the hearts of all his family here on earth!)
We love you very much, Karen & Joe!
John, Bonita & Joey in Texas
Dear Karen and Joe,
We have been on the Mainland for David's college graduation, but Ashleigh told us of Joey's passing. What a tragedy for you and your family. We think of our happy trip to the Mainland and about your trip, and we don't understand. Our hearts truly bleed for you. We can but imagine what you are going through; children should bury their parents, not the other way around.
We have been in daily prayer for you. No words will be able to soften the grief that you have been feeling, but please know that we love you and will keep you and your family before the Father.
May He grant you solace.
Shae and Bill Dixon
As I always say, "Keep On Trucking!!!!!!"
Keoni Morrell
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