Paul Johnson, 68, of Grinnell, died on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at UnityPoint Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

A funeral service will be held 10:30 am, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm on Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home and his family will receive friends from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.

Memorials may be designated to the Paul W. Johnson Memorial Fund to benefit local organizations and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Paul's family online at www.smithfh.com.

Paul William Johnson was born the son of Thomas Frederick Johnson and Lela June (VanMeter) Johnson on April 6, 1954 in England, where his dad was serving in the United States military. He was raised in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School with the class of 1973.

Paul was united in marriage to Deborah Dee Butcher on July 7, 1973, in Torrington, Wyoming. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Daniel Paul, JaDee Estelle, and Thomas Cole. They raised their family in Grinnell and Paul was employed at GTE/ Verizon for 27 years with the last 7 years in Plano, TX.

Paul was an outdoorsman who enjoyed going camping, fishing, and hunting. He held a strong love for his family and cherished the times he would spend watching his children's and grandchildren's school and sports events and especially the family gatherings on the holidays. Paul will be remembered for being humble and kind, for being an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan, and for being a loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Paul is survived by his wife of 49 years, Debbie Johnson of Grinnell; sons, Dan (Tanya Leverette) Johnson of Grinnell and Cole (Nikki) Johnson of Grinnell; daughter, JaDee (Jerome) Knight of Des Moines; grandchildren, Braden Daniel, Alex William, Nora Jeanne, Emma Elizabeth, Liam Paul, Ty Charles and Maya Dee; mother Lela McGinnis; siblings, Sherry (Ed) Roach of Kellogg, IA, Susan (Pete) Goodrich of Malcom, IA, and Debra Johnson of Grinnell; and half-brother, Bill (Robin) McGinnis of Grinnell. He was preceded in death by his father Thomas Johnson and a sister, Hope McGinnis, who died in infancy.