Thomas James Johnson

Thomas James Johnson, the son of Brian Swede LaVern and Terri Lynne Stockwell Johnson, was born May 14, 1992, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, Iowa and died September 27, 2010, surrounded by his family at his mothers home in Lake City, Iowa at the age of 18 years, 4 months, and 14 days.
Tom was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. He attended the Exira Community Schools and was a member of the High School Class of 2011. Tom had also attended school at Southern Cal School in Lake City, Iowa for a short period of time. Tom enjoyed playing basketball and football while in Junior High School and had been a member of the Viking Football Team.
Tom suffered from testicular cancer and spent endless hours attempting to raise awareness among other teenagers about the disease. He had the opportunity to speak to several high school classes about his personal experiences. Tom always had a strong positive attitude through his battle with cancer. He told his family that if he could go back to the way his life was before cancer he wouldnt. He said that having cancer made him a better person and he would never want to change that.
Tom loved his family very much and often said that his family was the most important thing in his life. He loved spending time with his brothers and sisters, parents, grandparents, girlfriend, cousins, aunts and uncles and also spending time with his best friends Robbie Joens, Ben Irlmeier, and Jerry and Teresa Joens. Tom was very excited to become an uncle and have the opportunity to see and hold his nephew Karson. Tom enjoyed watching football and his favorite team was the Denver Broncos. He was planning to go to a game with his uncle Bruce this fall. Tom had a great time participating in Relay for Life in both Calhoun and Audubon Counties. He was amazed at the number of people who came to walk and support him in his fight. Tom designed the shirts for Team Tom and loved to see people wear them and was appreciative of everything that was done for him.
Tom had many aspirations about the future hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father and brothers being a service to his country by joining the United States Armed Forces. He also dreamed of learning to fly helicopters.
Tom was very thankful for everything that everyone had done to help him through his battle and was grateful to his Nana and Papa and his cousin Ashley Andersen for all they had done for him.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Raymond Swede and Carol Johnson; his great grandparents: James Buss, Roy and Elsie Johnson, and Harold and Nettie Rubel; and his uncle Bradley Johnson and his cousin Amanda Bauer.
Tom is survived by his parents: Brian Swede Johnson of Exira, Iowa and Terri Johnson of Lake City, Iowa; his brothers and sisters: Kyle and wife Angie Johnson and their sons Karson Johnson and Hunter Andersen all of Exira, Bradley Johnson and Clinton Johnson both of Exira, Laura Johnson and Katelyn Johnson both of Lake City; his grandparents Bill and Lois Stockwell of Elk Horn , Iowa; his great grandmother Ruby Buss of Omaha, Nebraska; his aunts and uncles: Becky and husband Donnie Akers and Bruce and wife Lermes Johnson all of Exira, Karolyn Andersen of Omaha, Kim Kautz of Elk Horn, Robin Kautz of Atlantic, Iowa, Bill and wife Cathy Stockwell of Elk Horn; many cousins and other relatives; a special girlfriend Laurel Stephens of Audubon, Iowa and a special nurse and friend Pam Nielsen of Walnut, Iowa.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at 4:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Alan Finestead on Thursday, September 30, 2010, at 10:30 A.M. at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa.