Joel David Johnson, 77, of rural Compton, was surrounded by the love of his family when he passed away from complications of Lewy Body dementia on January 11, 2024, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.

Joel was born January 8, 1947 at the Harris Hospital in Mendota.  He was the son of Ray and Marie (Foulk) Johnson.  He was raised rurally and lived in the country his entire life.  He graduated from Mendota Township High School in 1965 and attended Western Illinois University, majoring in history.  He did graduate studies in English education at Illinois State University, and at Chicago Kent School of Law in Chicago.  Joel and his wife Jean ran Victorian Building & Repair and American Builders, two general contracting businesses in Mendota, for 32 years. He taught junior high language arts and coached basketball at Paw Paw School District.

Joel also served 33 years on the Mendota District 289 Board of Education, including numerous terms as board president. He was designated by the state school board association as a Master School Board Member.

Joel served as a field artillery specialist in the United States Army Reserve from 1970 - 1976, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He loved baseball, and coached Little League, Senior League, and Mickey Mantle League teams. He also served as church council president at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton.

Those who knew Joel knew his pride in his community, and they felt his deep dedication to the public good, education and learning. Joel was a defender of fairness and a tireless champion for equality. He sought to bring to the world transparency, honesty and truth.

Joel is survived by his beloved Jean (McClendon), to whom he was married for 51 years; his children, Jessie (Michael) Robinette, Luke (Kelli) Johnson, Neil (Melissa) Johnson, Brynn (Paul) Honeycutt; grandchildren Jacob, Brady, Erin, Quinn, Levi, Carson, Samuel, and Jean-Marie; sisters Julia (Jim) Wade,  Jill (Stephen) McNeill, sister-in-law Carrie (Mark) Lijewski, numerous cherished nieces and nephews, and his loving mother-in-law Betty Brown.  He was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Marie Johnson, and his brother-in-law Glenn McClendon.

A visitation will be held at the Merritt Funeral Home from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2024. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Immanuel  Lutheran Church of Compton with Rev. Jeff Schlesinger officiating. Burial will follow at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Please direct memorials to the family, to be used for establishing a scholarship in Joel's name.