Brandon Jay Johnson, 34, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.
Brandon was born on Saturday, Feb. 4, 1984, in Independence, Mo.
He was raised in Wheatland and graduated from Wheatland High School in 2002.
After high school, Brandon went to the University of Wyoming for several years and then decided to join the United States Navy on Dec. 15, 2005. The concept of “one team-one fight” appealed to him. He was a gunner’s mate-this role fit his personality. As the result of a non-military injury, Brandon was medically retired from the Navy on Aug. 28, 2018. He was a First Class Petty Officer. His duty stations included the Chinhae Navy Base, Busan, Korea, Norfolk, Va., the John C. Stennis Space Station in Miss. and San Diego, Calif. During his tenure he was deployed three times – twice out of Norfolk with the U.S.S. Cole (DDG67) and once out of San Diego with the U.S.S. Dewey (DDG105). Brandon loved being on the water, touring the world, and the challenge of taking care of the vertical launch systems on a Navy destroyer. Shooting guns brought him joy. He was a marksman with both a 9MM and the M16/M4 rifle.
Brandon and Shelby were married in 2012 and spent their years of marriage on Navy bases in Mississippi and San Diego. After his retirement from the Navy, Brandon and Shelby intended to move to Wheatland, and work on the family ranch. Brandon loved the outdoors, fly fishing, hunting, driving equipment, and being close to family. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and loved his Wyoming Cowboys. He was a good husband, a good son, and a good brother.
Brandon is survived by his wife, Shelby Johnson; his parents, Rex E. and Peggy D. Johnson; his brother, Adam (Maria)Johnson; niece, Shakti Johnson; and grandparents, Ernest and Sue Baker. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Clara Lou Johnson.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28 at the Memorial Baptist Church, 202 Nineteenth Street, in Wheatland with Pastor Lynn Nikkel officiating. Interment will be in the Wheatland Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Military Family Assistance Fund, 6486 State Highway 92, Torrington, WY 82240 would be appreciated by the family.
The Gorman Funeral Homes – Platte Chapel of Wheatland is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com.
