Donald Bleyn Johnson
December 25, 1936 - August 8, 2021
Donald B. Johnson, age 84 of Fremont
Died August 8, 2021 in Fremont.
Donald Bleyn Johnson was born December 25, 1936 to Bud and Sue Johnson in Imperial, NE. Don liked nearly everyone he met throughout his lifetime. He had a knack for getting people to talk and loved going out to eat with friends and family at a fine restaurant (enjoying a few glasses of wine). He was an incredibly generous, humble and caring man. He was wonderfully charming and would always greet you with a smile. He loved to travel and visited all 50 states and 30 countries. He would be embarrassed if we went on too long, so we will let you think about your own superlatives to describe this man.
Don graduated from Syracuse High School and excelled at more things than music. He was a member of the 1953-1954 Syracuse Rockets basketball team which was one of the most outstanding teams to play in the state of Nebraska. The team was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was an accomplished trumpet player who served as soloist and principal trumpet in the Headquarters 12th Air Force Band. He received a bachelor of fine arts degree from Peru State College, Peru, NE and a Master of Music from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Don taught for 35 years in Nebraska schools, including Table Rock, Wahoo, Wahoo Neumann and the last 21 years of his career in Fremont. Don received the J.C.'s Outstanding Young Educator Award, the Donald A. Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award (given by the Nebraska Bandmasters Association) and the prestigious Mac Award. He was elected to the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame and served as president of both the Nebraska Music Educators Association and Nebraska Bandmasters Association (but not at the same time). He was a Kiwanian and volunteered regularly for their service projects.
He retired from teaching in Fremont public schools, but he never really retired as he continued to tune pianos, and directed the Midland University (formerly known as Midland Lutheran College) band for 15 years. He worked for Dietze Music traveling throughout Nebraska. In addition to providing help with band instruments and equipment, he offered advice and mentoring to young band directors who were eager to learn from the seasoned Bandmaster.
He became involved with the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music in 1991. He and Barbara took hundreds of Nebraska music students and staff biannually on a trip of a lifetime, performing at iconic spots throughout Europe. Don and Barbara's last trip happened in 2015. Many students came home from the trip with lifelong friendships and their lives tremendously enriched by the experience.
In 2020, COVID-19 finally kept him from working.
His family will miss him more than you can imagine: Wife: Barbara B. Johnson, Fremont; Sister: Karen (Ken) Koch, Lincoln; Brother: Jim (Elaine) Johnson, Omaha. Children: Sherman (Tammy) Johnson, Lincoln; Bret Johnson, Elk Horn; Keith (Crystal) Eberspacher, Fremont; Jane (Steve) Flanagan, West Des Moines, IA; Carl (Ginger) Eberspacher, Omaha. Grandchildren: Tyler Johnson, Travis Johnson, Trey Johnson, Jena (Germaine) Leslie, Kara (Kevin) Heim, Aidan Eberspacher, Natasha Eberspacher, Haley Eberspacher. Great Grandchildren: Matson Johnson, Sadie Heim, Lela Heim, Elizabeth Heim. Nieces and nephews. Friends and colleagues.
Services to celebrate Don's life will take place on Saturday, August 14, 2:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 815 N. Broad St, Fremont, NE. (Livestream @ https://fremontfirstumc.org/). He will be interred at a private family burial service at Ridge Cemetery, Fremont, NE.
If you attend the service, you are encouraged to wear a face mask.
Memorial donations will be used to establish a scholarship fund in his memory.
Ludvigsen Mortuary in Fremont is in charge of arrangements.
Online guestbook at www.Ludvigsenmortuary.com
To watch a recording of the service please copy and paste the following link:
https://youtu.be/YzZ3jDucViM
Obituary Provided By:
1249 E. 23rd St.
Fremont, NE 68025
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