J. P. Johnson

Memorial Services for J.P. Johnson will be conducted from the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Chaplain DeWane Dow, officiating. Private Family Interment will be held prior to the Memorial Services at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with Pastor Glenn Frecks, officiating.

James Phillip "J.P." Johnson, 36 years of age, of rural Bertrand, passed away following a courageous battle with a brain tumor on Sunday, February 6, 2011 at the Tri-County Hospital in Lexington, Nebraska. He was born November 27, 1974 at Holdrege, the eldest of two children born to Ernest P. and Phyllis J. (Beiriger) Johnson. He was baptized and confirmed at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bertrand.

J.P. received his primary education from Loomis Public Schools in Loomis, Nebraska, graduating from Loomis High School with the class of 1993. He then pursued higher education at Nebraska Wesleyan University at Lincoln, where he received a Bachelors of Arts Degree in 1997. J.P. then continued with graduate school at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California and later transferred to ETH in Zurich, Switzerland, where he continued his studies. He received his Master's Degree from Cal Tech and returned to Nebraska Wesleyan, where he taught Chemistry for a year. J.P. then returned to graduate school at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he pursued his doctorate degree. In November of 2004, his studies would be interrupted due to a diagnosis of a brain tumor. Following his treatment, J.P. was able to work for a period of time and was employed at Cabela's in Kearney, Nebraska, where he received their International calls in French and German at the Call Center.

J.P. loved to travel Europe, enjoyed classical music, had a special place in his heart for animals and flowers, was an avid reader and most of all his primary interest in life was learning.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents: George and Helen Johnson and Silv and Johanna Beiriger.

He leaves to mourn his passing his parents: Ernie and Phyllis Johnson of rural Bertrand; one sister, Cathy Johnson of Lexington; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to Doctors Without Borders.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.