Jared "J.J." Johnson
June 24, 1975 ~ April 27, 2023
Born in:
Moorhead, Minnesota
Resided in:
Los Angeles, California
Jared “J.J.” Johnson, 47, went home to be with his LORD AND SAVIOR on April 27, 2023 after courageously fighting cancer for the last two years.
Jared was born June 24, 1975 in Moorhead, Minnesota to Ron and Irene (Beckmann) Johnson. He graduated from Shanley High School in 1993 and from UND with a B.S. in Biology.
Jared loved sports and played soccer, hockey, and baseball. He played for the Fargo American Legion Bombers and Post 2 teams. His Post 2 team played in the 1992 World Series game that was played in Fargo. He also played baseball at St. Mary’s College, Winona, MN and at Trinity Int. University, Deerfield, IL.
Jared lived in Los Angeles, CA for the last 20 years working in sales for Orchidia Fragrances. J.J.’s personality was accepting of others and was loved by virtually everyone. He was a joy to be around. His smile, wit, adventurous spirit, were loveable.
Jared was always a good friend and teammate as he did not have to be the center of attention; he cared more about the feelings and success of others than himself. Even though he was kind, he was quietly tough. He carried that tenacity throughout his life in sports and during his illness. He literally never quit. He ultimately realized that caring for and loving his daughters and family was the most important thing and that serving the LORD JESUS CHRIST was the only thing that counted in life – a fact that he passed on to his daughters. His hope is that we all get to see him on the other side.
Jared is survived by his daughters Trinity Johnson, Atlanta, GA; Joelle Johnson, Los Angeles, CA; fiancée Tomika Riley, Los Angeles, CA; parents Craig and Irene Richie, Fargo, ND; sister Krista (Johnson) Sullivan, Fargo, ND; brother Blake Johnson, Spokane, WA.
He was preceded in death by his father, Ron Johnson; grandparents Reynold and Beulah Johnson and Johann and Julia Beckmann.
Memorial Services will be held at 12 PM Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Burning Hearts Church in West Fargo – a visitation will be held one hour prior. Burial will follow at Holy Cross North Cemetery in Fargo.
Services
Visitation: May 13, 2023 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Burning Hearts Church
650 40th Avenue SE
West Fargo, North Dakota
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your heart. I pray that God will keep his ever loving arms around each of you
Loving Thoughts 🥰
Mary L. Gilliam
With Love Auntie Vone, Uncle Lenny and Family.
Aunt Blanche
Grandma Blanche
Jared, had the greatest smile with a personality to match. I remember those deep blue eyes. Always willing to help if he could. He gave us one of our most treasured gifts in our grand-daughter Joelle and our bonus grand-daughter Trinity. I loved to hear his pronunciations of words like “Roof” for example as well as others. You will truly be missed but we thank you for blessing our lives with your presence and sharing your life with us and for being an awesome father, dad, and friend to your girls, Trinity and Joelle. We celebrate and honor you. You were like another son who we grew to love and who left a permanent impression on and in our hearts. Rest well until we meet again.
Love, Sue
And I’m sending my deepest sympathies to Jared’s family, especially his two daughters.
Jared was a wonderful father and a fun loving person to be around. My oldest grandson and his youngest daughter use to play together all the time when they were younger. Now they’re both Juniors in college.
RIP Jared and know we will be keeping an eye out for the girls as they make their journey towards higher education.
Praying for God’s love to comfort your family during this difficult time.
Peace and love
Auntie Wilma
We started talking while waiting in line and kept talking through the entire flight.
We were instantaneous friends, I loved his light heartedness, laid back, family oriented persona and we became family not too long after that.
I would characterize the era of our life like the seasons.
As Summer, we were full of travel because of work, good music and great food.
We traveled to see Prince, Maroon5 and listened to Michael Jackson while cooking for Thanksgiving, these things all colored the backdrop of us.
During the crash of 07 cam the Fall and Jared lost his job and hit a turning point.
He weighed going to medical school or nursing school.
Medical school and the girls then nursing school for the girls.
He was admitted to the very difficult USC Nursing school and very proud of his performance One day he excitedly said, “The rounding doctor, asked me a question and I was able to answer.” Or, he was allowed to surture a patient sooner than expected.
Our Spring turned to Winter and our live went in different directions. Still family and friends but the next phase.
One day shortly after the birth of my son, Jared said to me, “Isn’t that immediate love, so amazing”. And, I could see it in his eyes his love for the Joelle and Trinity. Ladies, if ever life gets you down, know that his amazing love is shining down on you.
We kept in touch during the high points in the girls lives, and his life, there were always a call with an update.
My last time with Jared with he weekend before the Covid shutdown. He had moved up in the world, he was staying at the Ritz Carlton, a long ways way from no name motels of when I met him.
We enjoyed the things we always did, good food at the Juke Joint as we listened to great music and the next day visited the Football Hall of Fame and rounded it out with some football passes in Centennial park with my son.
To Craig and Irene we have had conversations about salvation but I’m not sure if Jared had mentioned it, but he had a vision of heaven.
I’d asked him one day what he thought heaven would be like.
His response was, “I never thought about it., But I guess it would be like a baseball field, full of beautiful green grass and bright sun light
shinning down.” And I caught his vision. I see him in that field with God’s like shining down on him smiling and winking.
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may he put his arms around you and grant you peace.