Edward Lee Johnson
Dr. Edward Lee Johnson, age 86, beloved father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away comfortably at home on February 22, 2018. He was enabled to remain at home because of the loving and committed care of his two sons, Bruce and Lance. He would proudly say he lived a full life and had experiences of which he could not have dreamed as a small town farm-boy from Lindsborg, Kansas. The last six years of his life slowly wore him down as he watched the love of his life, his wife Alice, deteriorate from Parkinson’s dementia and pass away in 2014 after 56 years of marriage. The final challenge which he just could not overcome was the pain and incapacitation of cancer.
Ed was the only son of two children born to Leonard and Adeline Johnson in Lindsborg, Kansas where he studied by kerosene lamp on the farm and came home by train to help with the harvest during his medical school training at KU. He met his future wife, Alice, during his internship year at Bernalillo County Indian Hospital (later BCMC) in Albuquerque, NM and they married in 1958. Ed and Alice began their family in Columbia, Missouri where Ed completed a five year surgical residency followed by a urological fellowship at Tulane. With two young children and a third on the way, Ed and Alice moved back to Albuquerque, NM where Ed began his private practice in surgical urology. As his practice became established, Ed and Alice were among the founding residents of Sandia Heights, where they completed their four children family and remained until the time of their deaths. Though Ed retired his private practice in 2002, he continued teaching at the VA Hospital until the age of 75.
Ed was known for being able to fall asleep in the middle of his own conversation, yet always having the energy for an adventure and the work ethic and compassion to help and care for others without obligation. He volunteered his time to provide physician coverage for a myriad of sports including Dukes baseball, Lobos basketball, ski patrol and rodeos. He was also instrumental in bringing professional hockey to New Mexico as President and co-owner of the Albuquerque Six Guns. Believing in the importance of always giving back to his profession, Ed diligently documented data from his extensive private practice to advance research and the treatment of prostate cancer. He was politically active in his profession, leading him to become President of the South Central Section of the A.U.A. Many may know Ed from his years of active involvement in Rotary Club. He also cherished his time with his poker and fishing buddies and was an avid hunter who planned elaborate tuxedo dinners with his hunting buddies over decades of hunting in Dawson, NM with the CS Ranch. With Alice, many hours were spent with a tight group of friends, playing bridge and ringing in many a New Year. He was active in his church and known for his brunch-serving, dish-washing and prickly pear jelly. Ed maintained friendships from as far back as his elementary school days. Somewhere in all of this he managed to travel the world and some of his greatest experiences were with Alice and family at the top of Machu Picchu, sitting with the silver-backed gorillas in Africa, walking with the penguins in Antarctica, and many family vacations which could have been an inspiration for the movie, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
He is survived by his children Bruce Johnson, Tammy (Brad) Baack, Allison (John) Kane, and Lance Johnson; six grandchildren, Joshua Johnson, Amber and Aidan Baack, Derek, Jonathan and Jared Kane; his sister, Ervalene Johnson; and sister-in-law Lyn (Rick) Heilman; along with many nephews, nieces, and other extended family.
The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Kaplan, whose compassion was instrumental in arranging hospice care so Ed could remain at home in comfort.
Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held in Lindsborg, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers the family would love for you to share your memories of Ed at: www.legacy.com/ obituaries/abqjournal/