Theodore Johnson
February 5, 1958 ~ May 21, 2018
Theodore 'Ted' Johnson, Jr., of Cedar Rapids, died Monday, May 21, 2018, at home. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2018, at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by Reverend Steve Garner. Visitation: 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 25, 2018, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Inurnment: Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; children, Theodore III 'TJ' (Jennifer) Johnson and Holly (Matthew) Foster; grandchildren, James Theodore Johnson and one on the way, and Riley and Mackenzie Foster; brother, Michael; mother-in-law, Vera Rimrodt; in-laws, Fred, Lee, Barbara, and Daniel (Jolene) Rimrodt, Karla (Brad) Crowell, and Maryann Palmquist; several nieces and nephews; many friends; and cats, Laney and Maya.
Theodore Orville Johnson, Jr. was born February 5, 1958, in Cedar Rapids, to Theodore Sr. and Clayta (Davis) Johnson. He attended Regis High School, graduating in 1976. He married Jeanette Rimrodt at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Alta Vista, Iowa, on June 23, 1984. He worked for 35 years at what is currently known as Treehouse Foods (formerly Ralston Foods).
Ted enjoyed boating and fishing, cooking, watching Westerns and Sci-Fi, especially Gunsmoke and Star Trek, and sports, including the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, and the Iowa Hawkeyes, and listening to the Grateful Dead. He was a trivia buff, especially in history and WWII knowledge. Ted previously coached Metro Catholic Saints football and AAU baseball, was an honorary member of the Knights of Columbus 909, and attended St. Matthew Catholic Church. He also was a former American Federation of Grain Millers (AFGM) Local 10 president and served as a union steward. Nobody was an acquaintance to Ted, and his humor stood out. If he didn't know something, he made up stories and took it as far as he could. He had many 'Ted-isms' and would probably say, 'By the time you're reading this, I'll be in the past tense.'
He especially enjoyed spending time with his children, attending and coaching their sporting events, taking the family boating and fishing, and telling 'big fish' and UFO stories. Ted will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Palmquist, father-in-law, Donald Rimrodt; and cat, Rex.
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I liked Ted from the moment I met him. He was upbeat, and always willing to share a comical memory from his past. He loved sports and spending time with his family. He deeply loved his wife Jeanette, and his children T.J. and Holly. Our family will not be as colorful without him. He will be missed by all that knew him. Rest easy Ted, your memory lives on.
Will always remember Ted as an wonderful unique guy who introduced me to the Grateful Dead many years ago when dating one of his friends. He will be very much missed…Kelly Gibson Vore
Ted infused others with a caring and considerate heart. Every year he would send the most meaningful message to our Metro Catholic Saints, urging them to achieve academically as well as with activities, all on the foundation of Faith, Family and friends. His love of family was without bound. Ted loved watching TJ crush a baseball or deliver a crushing lead block as a quintessential Xavier fullback. And I went to my first softball game because of Ted’s enthusiasm for Holly. And Ted always conveyed himself as lucky beyond measure to have captured Jeanette’s heart.
I am very grateful for all that Ted brought to my life, especially his coaching me up all the times I needed his good advice and good nature.
For all the Angels and Saints, Holy men and Holy women gathering Ted into God’s eternal Grace…you are getting one of the fellows that molded future Saints in the field, in his Faith, family and friends.
God Bless the memory of Ted Johnson and “Let’s Go Saints”!
Ted was our little league baseball coach and he was such an easy going and likeable person – always had a pleasant and upbeat attitude. The people who take time to work with kids, like Ted, are the best. Prayers to Ted and his family during this difficult time.