David Michael Johnson

PORTAGE  --  David Michael Johnson, age 22, of Portage, died tragically on Thursday, September 5, 2013.

David was born on September 29, 1990 in Madison, the son of Scott and Karen (Johnson) Johnson.  He was a 2009 Portage High School graduate and was a 2011 graduate of UW-Baraboo.  David’s participation in the 2009 Cabaret as Master of Ceremonies at Portage High School changed his life.  It was then that he knew he wanted to be on stage.  David auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2011.  He enrolled in the Second City Training Center in Chicago in 2012, the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world.  His love of comedy was important to him;  he always wanted to make people laugh and smile.  David had just finished writing a comedy show which he planned to direct and act in.  He had just contacted the Portage Center for the Arts about performing it there.  He also loved oldies music, particularly the Beatles.  David had worked at the Levee Restaurant and then at Subway the past five years.  He cared deeply about the people in his life.  David became an ordained minister in 2011 with hopes of officiating in the future weddings of his sister and brother.

He is survived by his parents, Scott and Karen Johnson, Portage;  his sister, Kristina Johnson, Portage;  his brother, Matthew Johnson, Portage;  his grandparents, Pamela and Norman Johnson, Wyocena, and Sandy Johnson, Portage;  other relatives and many friends.  He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Carlton Johnson.

Private funeral services will be held at a later date.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

In lieu of flowers, a David Johnson Memorial Fund has been established at Associated Bank in Portage.

If we could have a lifetime wish
A dream that would come true,
We’d pray to God with all our hearts
For yesterday and You.
A thousand words can’t bring you back
We know because we’ve tried….
Neither will a thousand tears
We know because we’ve cried….
You left behind our broken hearts
And happy memories too…..
But we never wanted memories
We only wanted You.