Jean (Chip) Louis Johnson Jr.

Jean "Chip" Johnson, Jr passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest at the age of 74 on June 18, 2025. Chip was a one in a million husband, dad and grandpa. Chip was born in Kinston, North Carolina on February 6, 1951 to Frances and Jean Johnson Sr. and moved to Delano, Minnesota in 1957 after a short few years in Shakopee, MN. A proud graduate of Delano High School, Chip excelled at sports and was especially known for his skill in baseball and softball. Legend has it that Chip once hit a homerun so hard that it hit the powerline and ricocheted back into the ball field, robbing him of his longest out of the park home run. Later in life, he used these legendary softball skills to teach his kids how to hit and throw, spending countless hours with them at the softball fields next to their home in Golden Valley. Chip and his friends enjoyed water skiing at Lake Sarah on his speedboat and were known to get into the occasional mischief like building a cannon in shop class. He graduated from St Cloud State University with a degree in Marketing and went on to have a successful 33 year career in sales with Center Point Energy. Chip was introduced to Linda Johnson by Linda's mother, Helen Grotz, who kept showing him a photo of her daughter while Chip was trying to play bridge with Linda's father, Ed Grotz, in a bridge league. Helen was widely known for her persistence and didn't often take "no" for an answer, so eventually Chip and Linda went on their first date and quickly fell in love. At the age of 36, Chip married Linda on Nov 6, 1987 and became a husband and stepfather to two six-year old twin girls overnight. His kids often asked Chip what he was thinking when he stepped into this new life, but we are so glad he jumped in without hesitation and became the best dad and stepdad we could hope for and so much more. We are so grateful for the joy-filled 39 years we had with this amazing guy laughing, cheering us on at our games, traveling, playing card games (strictly by the rules), becoming a grandfather, and watching him continually give his time and love to everyone around him. He was our #1 fan. Chip's life revolved around his family and friends, and he was always there when anyone needed help. Breakup with a boyfriend? Call Chip. Fall snowboarding and can't get up off the floor? Chip was there in 15 minutes to drag you into the car and get you to the hospital to avoid an ambulance bill. Need help with home repairs? Chip had the tools and creative solutions to solve any problem. Need someone to rock a crying newborn in the middle of the night so you can get some sleep? Chip happily sat in the rocking chair and always looked puzzled when asked if he needed a break..."Why?" he would ask, and then say "I'm fine!" Generosity was one of Chip's many superpowers and will continue to live on in the countless acts of kindness he shared with us all. Every summer, Chip and his family would pile into their minivan and drive across the country to explore the United States during a multi-week road trip adventure. Often departing on a Friday after work, Chip and Linda would drive through the night so their family could wake up in a different state on their way to a new destination. We spent many hours in the car listening to classic rock (think Beach Boys and Black Sabbath), having contests to see who could make their gummy worm last the longest (Chip always won), and spur of the moment detours to go crabbing in Oregon or pick wild blueberries in Maine so we could make a pie on the camp stove. After retiring in 2018, Chip and Linda spent hours together gardening, working on home improvements, and spending time with their kids, grandchildren and many close friends. Chip loved cooking & grilling for family and friends and had perfected his homemade bacon recipe (lovingly known as "Chip Bacon"). Chip's travel adventures continued as he and Linda visited family and friends across the United States and they began to explore the world in many "once-in-a-lifetime" trips over the past 8 years. Chip and Linda traveled with their kids and grandkids to Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Thailand, Mauritius, Peru, and most recently, Australia and New Zealand. Chip will be missed greatly by his wife, Linda, his children, Andrea (Pete), Becky (Clay), and Chris; his grandchildren, Addison, Peyton, Aiden and Miles. He is also survived by his sister Pam McDonald (Mike). Chip lived his life to the fullest surrounded by his family and friends with an amazing sense of humor, fun, and unending generosity. We will all miss him dearly.

Tributes

Jean (Chip) Louis Johnson Jr.

February 6, 1951 - June 18, 2025

Tributes

Jean (Chip) Louis Johnson Jr.

February 6, 1951 - June 18, 2025

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203