Isaiah "Ike" Johnson

Isaiah “Ike” Jack Johnson was born January 14, 1925, the son of Thomas and Grace Johnson in Kansas. He died June 10, 2015 in Ft. Washington, Maryland at the age of 90.
Ike was one of nine children, of whom two survive him. Ike was united in marriage to Wilma Shields in Coffeyville, Kansas and the couple was blessed with the birth of four children. On October 29, 1978 Ike was united in marriage to Betty Segebart in Centerville, VA.
Ike attended college at the University of Iowa on a track scholarship, where he won the 120-yard high and low hurdles at the Drake Relays. He also was an avid golfer, winning numerous golf tournaments throughout the Midwest and East Coast. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Tsi and U of I’s I Club.
Ike and Wilma and family moved to Denison in 1964 where he became Director of the Food Service of Midwestern College until the college closed in 1970. He was then recruited to run a custom bedroom furniture franchise on the East Coast. Ike then accepted a position with the Department of Corrections in Lorton, VA where he created the very first prison Culinary Arts program in the United States. There he was also very active in the lives of the inmates, was manager of 12 vocational trades, and was advisor to black Muslims and other black inmates. In 1983, he was selected as Employee of the Year from out of 400 employees in the Virginia Dept. of Corrections, and was named by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. to be facilitator for three years to direct and coordinate 72 agencies where he created a program to feed 4,000 people at Christmastime. He was also a member of the Mayor’s Steering Committee for Special Activities in Washington, D.C.
In 1990, he and Betty returned to Denison to allow him to rehabilitate after losing both his legs due to a vascular disease. Shortly after his return, Governor Terry Branstad (in his first time occupying that office) offered Ike the job as Commissioner on the Status of African-Americans residing in Iowa, answering directly to Mr. Branstad.
At the same time, he was hired as Advisor of African-American students to help counsel, resolve conflicts, and solve problems at the new Denison Job Corps Center. It was here that Ike had his greatest influence on the lives of thousands of students. He was the Center Standards Officer for legal representation and disciplinary concerns for its students; the Student Body Counselor; Advisor for Sudanese students; instructor of Cultural Awareness; coordinator of the Intergroup Relations Committee for three years; and facilitator for sensitivity training for staff and students.
In 1996, he was chosen Teacher of the Year at Job Corps. He was recipient of the Iowa State Dept. of Education Merit Award in 1997, and was selected by the governor in 1998 to receive the Outstanding Volunteer Service in Iowa Award. He worked a total of 15 years at Job Corps.
Ike established the Denison Community Diversity Committee in Denison, perhaps his greatest contribution to the welfare of the community.
Ike had a tremendous work ethic and loved every position he held in his lifetime. He was a key player in the nonfiction book entitled “Denison, Iowa” where he was referred to as The Old Man. He will always be remembered for the way he cared for other people and his unique ability to make everyone smile.
Ike was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Wilma, six siblings, and one son, Ronald.
Survivors include his two sisters, Ollie and Flossie his wife Betty two sons, Dr. Keith and his wife Cheryl; Craig and his wife Elly; one daughter, Dr. Terry and her husband Kenneth; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five stepchildren: Eric; Kathy and her husband Curt; Julie and her husband Mark; Rick of his wife Deb; Angie and her husband John; 19 step-grandchildren; 24 step-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.