MERCER ISLAND, WA (December 4, 2015) — Jerome Johnson, retired Covenant pastor and former superintendent of the Canada Conference, died this morning. He was 84. Services are pending.
Jerome was born on June 29, 1931, in Jamestown, New York. He studied agriculture at Purdue University and graduated from North Park Junior College and earned a bachelor of arts in history from Augustana College. He graduated from North Park Seminary in 1958.
Jerome married Verna Hultman on September 11, 1953. She survives.
Jerome served churches in Glenview, Illinois; Edina, Minnesota; Princeton, Illinois; and Seattle, Washington. He also served as minister of Christian education for the East Coast Conference and as superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada from 1988 until his retirement in 1994.
He served on numerous regional and denominational boards and committees, including the Board of Home Mission, Board of Managers for Covenant Children’s Home in Princeton, and camp committees in the Central and North Pacific Conferences.
Survivors include his children, Jeffrey Johnson and Melanie Johnson, and a granddaughter, Alexis Johnson.
Jerry was my “bishop” while I was his pastor. We fished together, made Swedish potato sausage together, wept together and laughed together. He was a mentor, friend, and brother who was non-judgmental and compassionate. I will miss him dearly for a time…then we’ll meet again. Thank you God for Jerry!
A good man, gifted servant of Christ and a loyal Covenanter. The Lord bless you and keep you. Peace to your memory.
I am sorry to say goodbye to a colleague and friend. As I knew Jerome, he was in his heart of hearts, a shepherd. Even in our recent visits, he would note how he missed the ministry. I am confident of this, that Jerome was “found faithful.” It was with a deep sense of honor that I had the privilege of walking with him for part of his journey home. May God continue to bear fruit through the efforts of His servant.