Dr. Mitrick (Rick) Alan Johns

April 17, 1953-June 12, 2023

Rick Johns was the oldest son of Pat and Bill Johns, and a brother to Dan  (Karen) Johns and Susan (Craig) Morgan.

A child of the 50s, he grew up loving everything about science and outer space.  He followed that passion to Yale University, which he found he didn't enjoy much.  Luckily, he did get a degree in Biology out of it, and also met his first wife, Diane Gimble.  They married in 1976 and moved to the west coast (which he liked better), where he earned a PhD at the University of Oregon. They had two daughters, Emily Faulkner and Caroline Johns, who both look like him in different ways.

In 1985 he took a job as professor in the NIU Biology Department, close to his parents and siblings. His research focused on the molecular biology of corn, rice, pigs, and petunias, but he was always happiest teaching students biology and genetics. During lectures he liked to draw his pet cats as excellent examples of piebalding (calico) and X-linked inheritance (tortoiseshell) traits.  And also because he thought it was funny.

After his first marriage ended, Rick married Freyja Rasmussen-Johns, whom he loved deeply.  They had more than 30 years together, but would have wanted many, many more. He embraced his step-children, Josh Kerwin and Brittany Chatfield, as his own, and when each of his children brought home their partners–Stephanie Faulkner, John Livadaros, Connie Kalsch, and Nick Chatfield—he welcomed them too.  Holiday dinners that overflowed the dining room with family and friends gave him great joy.

As so often, though, the real stars were his grandchildren–Edith, Everett, Theodore, Selene, and Axel.  Whether marching them straight through the underbrush at Russel's Woods, teaching them how to build an ungainly but ultimately perfect birdhouse out of scrap wood, supervising their truly terrifying skateboarding sessions, or making silly faces, he loved to be there as they grew.  His greatest sadness will have been not getting more time with them, especially Selene, Axel, and the grandson who is on the way.

Rick loved to be outside.  No matter the weather, he was always walking, running, gardening, camping, or just sitting on the porch with a glass of wine and a good book. He and Freyja loved to travel together, stopping at quirky roadside attractions and seeing the country from behind the wheel.  He loved to work with his hands to fix his and his children's houses, often using the work as an excuse to spend time with them and have deep, winding conversations about everything going on in their lives.

But mostly, Rick loved to sing.  Whether he was with his brother belting out rock and roll on the guitar, practicing a complex classical piece with the DeKalb Festival Chorus, leading a hymn with the St. Paul's Episcopal Church choir, or just humming an advertising jingle from the 1950s (thanks a lot, Mr. Clean! None of us will ever forget you!) Rick was always making music.

Rick died suddenly but peacefully Monday afternoon while resting after helping in the rectory and garden at St. Paul's, where he had found a true spiritual home and a place to use his time and talents to serve his community.

His family and friends will miss him terribly, and DeKalb will never be quite the same without a second Jeff Bridges walking around town.

His memorial visitation will be on Sunday, June 25th from 2:00-4:00 PM at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 900 Normal Road, DeKalb, IL.  His memorial service will begin at 4:00 PM.

A reception will follow the service at the Church.

Memorials for can be made to the DeKalb Public Library in care of the Butala Funeral Home, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL. 60178.  To sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com