Lt. Col Dennis Laverne Johnson (Retired), 72, of Fayetteville passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 18, 2024.
Dennis was born on July 15, 1951, in Princeton, IL to the late Dale L. Johnson and Patsy Lou Salmon Johnson.
In 1973, he graduated from West Point and 10 days later married the love of his life, Karen Doll Johnson. Dennis’s first overseas assignment was in Germany as Platoon Leader and XO for Charlie Co. in the 28th Infantry Division. There his oldest daughter, Karrie Ann, was born. He was then stationed at Ft. Bragg where his youngest daughter, Karla, was born and where his family would call their home.
Early in his military career he completed Airborne Training, Ranger School, and Special Forces Training, eventually attaining the level of Jump Master with over 100 jumps.
Dennis attended Naval Post Graduate School and The Defense Language Institute for Korean in Monterey, California before spending two years in Korea at Camp Red Cloud. He then returned to Ft. Bragg as a Foreign Area Officer in the Special Forces Command. His next assignment was to the Military Academy in El Salvador where he served for one year. He once again returned to Ft. Bragg continuing his work as a Foreign Area Officer in Unconventional Warfare. His last tour was in Washington DC where he worked at the Pentagon in Logistics for two years and retired after 22 years of active duty, as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Between the years of 1996-2001, Dennis taught Spanish at Pembroke University, Campbell College, Fayetteville Technical Community College, Central Texas College, and Douglas Byrd High School. After 9/11 Dennis went back to work in Civil Service for the Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg where he retired in 2016.
Dennis was a member of Campground United Methodist Church, the VFW, and enjoyed volunteering at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum. After his second retirement he spent his time with his family and his favorite hobby, reading.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024, at Jernigan-Warren Chapel. A burial will follow at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery with Military Honors.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister Dixi L. Johnson Griffith.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Karen Doll Johnson; daughters, Karrie Ann Claeys, Karla April Porter, and husband Michael; sister, Dawn Chruscial and husband Walter; brother, Deryl Johnson and wife Louise; grandchildren, Morgan and Dylan Porter.
Arrangements by Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home, 545 Ramsey St. Fayetteville, N.C. 28301
