HAROLD LELAND JOHNSON

It is with sadness that we report the death of our beloved son and brother, Harold Leland "Hal" Johnson.  He was born on April 18, 1980, in Canon City, Colorado and passed from this life on December 13, 2024.

Hal grew up in Genoa, Illinois where he graduated from Genoa-Kingston High School. Hal graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in biology in 2002.  He later earned a master's degree in MAPSS studies from the University of Chicago in 2003.  Hal was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa while a senior at the University of Illinois.

The first stop on his journey in the world of work was with the Illinois State Police where he was trained and hired as a DNA analyst.  Hal went to work for BAE Systems in 2012, where he was employed as a battlefield forensic analyst in Afghanistan.  After a year overseas, he returned and went to work as a forensic biologist for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, where he was employed at the time of his death.  Hal was a lifelong learner with a deep appreciation of the arts.  Combining his love of art and forensic science, he studied art forgery in Italy.  He recently had an article published in the spring 2024 Journal of Art Crimes.

Hal was very meticulous with every aspect of his life.  He was a talented artist, photographer and illustrator who incorporated these skills into the accounts of his travels around the world and in the many beautiful works of art that he created.

He will be sadly missed by those family members who survive him.  These include his parents Jay and LeAnn Johnson of Genoa, Illinois; sisters Rachel and Carrie (Dan Fulkerson) of Chicago; nieces Lila Mae, Riley Ann and June Nancy Fulkerson; aunt Jo Ann Reed (Larry); great aunt Kathy Gay; and many cousins.  Hal was preceded in death by maternal grandparents Leland and Clara Lee Long, paternal grandparents Harold and Evelyne Johnson, maternal great grandparents James and Clara Myers, uncle Le Roy Long, great uncle Bill Long, and great aunts Helen Hill and Shirley Kurtz.

A memorial service will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, 325 South Stott St., Genoa, on Saturday, February 1, at 11:00 AM, with visitation beginning at 10:30.  A reception will be held in Fellowship Hall following the service.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 8, from 4-6:00 PM at the Greenhouse Loft, 2545 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in Hal's name to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105 or call 1-800-822-6344.

Arrangements were completed by the Slater-Butala Funeral Home, Genoa, IL.  To sign the online guest book, go to http://www.Butalafuneralhomes.com