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Dean Johnson Obituary


Former President of the Pennsylvania Holstein Association, Dean Andrew Johnson, 62, of Warren, PA died Thursday, April 30 at Kinzua Healthcare after a lengthy illness. He was born on March 5th 1958 in Warren, PA. He was the son of Donald R. Johnson and the late Jacqueline L Kibbey Johnson.

Dean was a 1976 graduate of Warren Area High School where he played football and was on the wrestling team. He received an Associate’s degree from Alfred State University and then went on to receive a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dairy Science from Virginia Tech where he attended on a wrestling scholarship and met his future wife Melinda Johnston through the VA Tech Dairy Club and love of the Holstein cow. Throughout his collegiate sports career he was named an All American in Wrestling.

Following graduation, he and Melinda were married in September of 1981 in her hometown of Madison, Virginia before returning together to his home farm on Frantz Road in Warren County. Together he and Melinda founded Hem-View Holsteins an internationally known dairy cattle breeding and farming business. Which in 2013 became a Pennsylvania Century Farm, honoring over 100 years of being a working farm in the same family. Dean served at the state level of Pennsylvania Holstein from 1986 to 2004 serving in capacities from Treasurer to President. He and Melinda started and chaired the first PA Junior Holstein Association Convention in 1989, making Pennsylvania one of the first states to offer this agricultural youth focused event. The couple, both renowned dairy judges themselves, coached the Warren County Youth Dairy Judging Teams.

For 37 years Dean was the Farm Director and Treasurer of the Warren County Conservation District helping to promote sustainable agricultural processes. In 2016 he joined Warren Electric Co-Op as a Director.

Dean served as a substitute teacher in the Warren County School District entertaining years of kids with bringing live chickens and calves into the biology classroom or his signature “word of the day”. He was a head football and wrestling coach at Sheffield, Beaty and Warren Area High Schools. He and his brother, Dennis Johnson and cousins Dan and Brad Johnson ran the famous Johnsons’ Wrestling Camp each summer for over 10 years in the 80s and 90s. In 2010 Dean was inducted into the Warren County Sports Hall of Fame.

A lifetime fixture at the Warren County Fair attending every one since its move to Pittsfield always as a dairy exhibitor, as a 4-H leader and mentor, later in the draft horse arena and then to the delight of the county for 10 years in the Costume Class of the Silver Cup Horse Show with his loyal Belgian steed, Barney. As an active member of the Warren County Holstein Club in weeks following the Fair, he ran the Club Sale at the Fairgrounds.

Dean was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where he was Lay Leader, Sunday School Teacher, and occasionally acted as substitute pastor.

Dean is survived by his wife of 38 years, Melinda Johnson of Warren and sons Harrison Taylor Johnson of Madrid, Spain, Marshall David Johnson of London, UK and Colter Dean Johnson and his wife Paige Ryder Johnson of Warren. He is also survived by his brother Dennis Johnson and his wife Melissa Conn Johnson of Warren, his sister Diedra Harkenrider and her husband Tom Harkenrider of Ithaca, NY and his father Donald R Johnson of Warren, PA. He was preceded in death by his mother Jacqueline L Kibbey Johnson and infant brother David Albert Johnson.

Dean will always be remembered for his infectious laugh, ability to tell a great story and has been a mentor, teacher and friend to all.

Calling hours will be held as a drive-through celebration of his life at Hem-View Farms on Frantz Road Warren, PA 16365 from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday May 9th. In lieu of flowers for those wishing to make a donation in Dean’s memory, please consider Warren County 4-H, Warren County Conversation District, Warren Athletics Fund and Grace United Methodist HOPES Fund.

Everyone at The Bullvine would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of Dean.


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