Calvin Johnson

Calvin "Cal" A. Johnson went to be with the Lord on October 9, 2025. Following a brief illness, he passed peacefully in his home in Jacksonville, IL with his son, daughters, and granddaughter at his side.

Cal was born January 30, 1931, in Ottawa, IL to Arndt and Elsie Johnson and graduated from Ottawa High School. A lifelong sports fan, Cal cheered for the Chicago Cubs his entire life and rarely missed a game. He played baseball, football, and basketball; his high school basketball team reached the 1949 Illinois State Championship where he scored 10 points. Later he played and coached church basketball and softball with much success and coached his son's little league teams.

Cal met his wife Vera at Olivet Nazarene College and they married in 1953. Cal was drafted into the Army during the Korean War and was stationed at Fort Ord. When Cal was discharged from the Army, he found a teaching job at Fremont Elementary School in Salinas, CA. He remained there until he retired. Although he had an ordered classroom, Cal loved to bring comic books and treats for his fourth-grade students. Cal and Vera attended Salinas Church of the Nazarene and were very active members there for more than five decades where he served in many roles and was particularly focused on welcoming newcomers.

In 2006, Cal and Vera returned to Illinois to be near family. Their 68-year marriage was one of love and lifelong companionship. Cal cherished time with his three children and five grandchildren and remained devoted to Vera until her passing on Christmas Day, 2021.

Cal is remembered by his sister Esther Hanson (John) of Bourbonnais, IL, son Jeff Johnson (Holly) of Castroville, CA, daughter Jane Finney (Jim) of Jacksonville, IL, daughter Jill Duncan (Ron) of Brentwood, TN, four grandchildren, Adam Johnson (Angela) of Puyallup, WA, Amy Finney of San Francisco, CA, Brad Duncan (Keeley) of Franklin, TN and Bryan Duncan (Emily) of Goodlettsville, TN and eight great-grandchildren, Lucas, Isabelle & Liam Johnson, Milo, Roman & Brody Duncan, and Brooks & Beckett Duncan. Cal's granddaughter Kara Finney passed away in 2015.

A private graveside service with burial was held on October 11, 2025, at the Beardstown City Cemetery. Family and friends will honor Cal with a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Bethel Community Church of the Nazarene in Arenzville, IL. Visitation will be at 10 am and the service will follow at 11 am.

Collwell Memorial Home in Beardstown, Il is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Johnson's service will also be streaming live on the funeral home Facebook page. Memorials may be made to Bethel Community Church of the Nazarene, the Kara Elizabeth Finney Memorial Fund for Neurodevelopmental Services at the Natividad Medical Foundation or the RAD Project benefiting Peritoneal Carcinomatosis research at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Condolences may be left online at www.colwellmemorialhome.com or on Facebook at Colwell Memorial Home.