A Celebration of Life for William (Bill) Anthony Johnson will be held at a future date to be determined.
Bill was born on October 4, 1956, in Webster, South Dakota and died on March 17, 2022. He was surrounded by his beloved family and was able to say goodbye to his loved ones who couldn’t be there, using modern technology.
He was the cherished husband of Gretchen B. Johnson (nee Beckman); loving father of Kimberly Johnson Hogate (Todd Hogate) and Michael Beckman Johnson (Emily Koury); loving Baba of Annaleia Hogate and Elaine Johnson; dear son of the late Dale and Mary (nee Prunty) Johnson; loving brother of Bob, Steve (Rose), and Tom Johnson; loving uncle to Daniel, Elizabeth, Alex, Kyle, David, Natalie, Corey, Robert and Lindsay; great uncle to Trenton, Haileigh and Chyanne; cherished brother-in-law to Rose Johnson, Lisa Beckman, Bert (Diana Mees) Beckman, Bill Beckman and Pam Beckman.
Bill graduated from the University of Iowa in 1978 with a degree in journalism. While at Iowa, he was the university editor of the Daily Iowan. He won several awards during that time, including, the Brewer key for journalistic excellence. His first job out of college was writing manuals for computer programs. He later completed his Masters in Business Administration at Duke University. He worked full time and went to classes in the evening, completing the program in two years. He had several different positions in the computer industry ending up working in Business Intelligence at Motorola.
Bill also loved science fiction and won a Hugo Award in 1998 for his novella, “We Will Drink a Fish Together”. His stories were published in “The Year’s Best Science Fiction” several times. His good friend Gay Haldeman helped guide him through the writing business.
Most of all, he loved his family. He was happiest being Baba to Elaine and Annaleia. He never missed a day telling us how much he loved us. He is sorely missed.
He had many trials related to a genetic disorder, Marfan Syndrome. He also told us that he didn’t want to have his life prolonged with machines. And he put this in many of his stories. He was also a very giving person and had checked the donate organs box on his driver’s license.
He was a very funny person and self-deprecating. He was very tall and would leave messages in the dust on the top of his friend’s refrigerators. Everywhere we went, people would ask him, “How tall are you?” Sometimes he’d say, “Don’t worry-you’ll get your full growth one day.”
In lieu of flowers, donations to The Marfan Foundation, https://marfan.org would be appreciated.
We will miss Bill very much. He was an incredibly good natured, kind man.
Bill was my freshman roommate at the University Of IOWA we had many good times together. Sledding on lunch trays in the winter time and a master risk game with two game boards.He will be sorely missed.
I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Bill. He was a classmate at Manning and I can tell you that our small class is devastated to learn of his death. He was a friend to all. Even though we were mainly friends on Facebook these days (due to distance), I will never forget the kind, intelligent, and hilarious man that he was. Much love to all of your family.
Bill was a wonderful man and a great friend. We slept on picnic tables at a rest stop somewhere in the South on our way to Florida. We slept on the floors of a few cheap hotel rooms at science fiction conventions in the 1970s. He was hilarious and generous and kind. I miss him.
Bill and I were friends, and eventually housemates, in college. It was a running routine our whole lives that whenever we talked he would mention how the taller you were the more handsome. And then pat me on the head and add something like “Don’t worry, little one, you’ll grow.”
So sorry to hear about my friend, Bill. He gave me my first opportunity at Motorola in 1995. He Will forever be missed. Condolences and prayers Gretchen and family. 😢
Our heartfelt condolences to the family. Our prayers are with you. Going to miss Bill, good old days from 3Com days. Bill was a wonderful person and a good friend.
It’s been many years since I’ve seen Bill. Occasionally he’d give me a shout-out. And it always left me feeling good about myself and about him. There were layers in those brief remarks – he remembered shared history, he deployed gentle humor, he showed implicitly that he appreciated you and that he’d welcome seeing you again. And reading other’s comments, he was the same way with them. It’s not that he never rendered a sharp judgment, but he had good values, and he valued family and friends.
Bill has left the flesh behind, but his spirit remains with those who knew him.
Bill was my boss, my mentor, my roll model, and most of all my friend. He and his family made an impact on my life and so many others.
I miss my “boyfriend” Bill, he was the happiest good natured person I knew. He loved his life and his wife. Our world is a bit sadder without him, but in Bill’s style we will try to live in his spirit. Enjoy heaven…you earned it .
I count as one of the greatest achievements of my life encouraging BillJohn to date my friend Gretchen Beckman….
His death is a tragic loss. Join me in fulfilling he and Gretchen’s wishes to honor him in contributing to medical research regarding Morphan. My love to all who feel his loss.
This is lovely tribute of multi-talented Bill who was loved by so many. He touched so many lives. I have so many memories of him from college days that make me smile.
Bill gave me my first job out of college when he worked for Datapoint in San Antonio. He was my first and best boss I ever had. So much so, that I followed him up to Ann Arbor, Michigan to work for him at BNR. Here, he proceeded to hire an intern named Cherie who later became my wife. So one very underappreciated accomplishment of Bill’s was that of matchmaker. Later, I followed Bill to Motorola in Illinois. Did I mention what a great boss he was? Well, he was an even better man. Bill enriched my life in so many ways. It is an honor and privilege to say he was my friend.
I met Bill in the mid-‘70s at an SF event I Iowa City. He was a fine gentle man with a quick wit and great sense of humor.
I am 6’-3” tall and he always referred to me as “Little Denny”.
I did not personally know Bill, but my son, Bill Leonard, did. They were good friends for many years and went on vacation trips together. I met Bill and Gretchen when they came to Bill’s wife, Kay’s, memorial service in Huntsville. I was truly sad to hear of Bill’s passing. My son, Bill, has lost a special friend. I pray God’s presence will sustain everyone and that the knowledge you have of the life he led is a memory you can cherish forever.
So sorry for your loss. I will miss seeing him around the neighborhood walking with your beloved dog.
Prayers for all of you during this difficult time.
Dear Gretchen, Mike, Kim, and the rest of the family,
We Kinsellas are terribly saddened by the passing of Bill. Although we only lived close to you for a few years, he made such a large impact that we will always remember him vividly. He always had a kind word and a smile. He was nice to every living thing. He was also quite talented and smart – he helped us buy our first computer in 1995 and helped me set up my AOL Instant Messenger account! (Our kids thought he was the absolute coolest to know about this stuff!) Earth’s loss is definitely Heaven’s gain. May he rest peacefully. <3
Bill and I met in MBA school at Duke and became friends immediately. We helped each other stay positive when we realized what it required to do it all, i.e., work full time at a job and full time on the MBA. We helped each other get through some difficult course work. We stayed in contact over the past 40 years but met up last in 2008. Bill was a warm, kind, bright and accomplished man with high standards who was fortunate to meet and fall in love at a young age with his soulmate Gretchen. My heart breaks for you Gretchen and your family, you are all in my prayers.
Tex- Mex party was fun at his home and my barn. One of the pioneer to get CableComm from concept to production. William A. Johnson will be missed, RIP🙏🙏🙏
Gretchen, Michael, & Kimberly,
So sorry to hear of the passing of my cousins husband,Bill. I know you will miss him greatly. I know he was a good man, husband, daddy & granddaddy. Again, soo 😞 sorry. I wish I could be there with you. Love, Suzanne Conley
I worked with Bill at Motorola for many years and those were great times. He was one of a kind and will be greatly missed. Gretchen and family — I am so very sorry for your loss.
Bill, as my genetic brother I will certainly miss you but will remember the times we spent together.
I am really sorry for your loss, please accept our deepest condolences on your loss.
I feel fortunate to have worked for Bill in my early career, he was a great manager, mentor and most of all an excellent person! I’ll miss him, may he rest in peace!!
Dear Gretchen, Michael, Kimberly, and family,
We are so saddened to hear of Bill’s passing. Our hearts go out to all of you. Bill was one of the sweetest people we have ever met and we will miss seeing him at ICon every year. We will drink a fish in his honor. May your happy memories of him bring you comfort.
I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to meet Bill during my time at Motorola. As my manager, he treated me fairly and made sure that he gave you praise for a job well done. He will be missed. My sincere prayers and condolences to the family.
Like Dr. Jon, Bill and I go back to freshman year at the University of Iowa. I had heard a few stories about Bill’s professional career, but am learning great things here. I’m not surprised that Bill was just as good to the people he worked with as he was with everybody else.
Gretchen, so sorry to hear about Bill’s passing. We had a lovely time on Lesley Lovelace river cruise with Sandy and Lou Conrad.
Judy and Russ Hill
Petawawa Ontario
Canada