Bradley Christian Mark Johnson

Bradley was born on February 7, 1990 in Colorado Springs. He moved with his family to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was two and made the “land of green chilies and Mexican cuisine” his home until he was 16 years old. He was home-educated along with his three siblings.

His love for people and ministry began to develop when he and his family were actively involved at Calvary of Albuquerque. He was on staff in the nursery and worked in the skate board park when he was in junior high school. Bradley also found ways to share the Gospel with skateboarders and gang members.

His first job at Robeks in Albuquerque introduced him to nutrition and healthy eating. That would lead to a lifestyle of healthy eating and interest in pursuing a degree in health and nutrition in the future.

When Bradley was 16, his family moved back to Colorado Springs. He completed a counseling course through American Associate of Christian Counselors his senior year while pondering thoughts of going into youth ministry and counseling. He was actively involved in children’s and hospitality ministries at his local church throughout high school. He graduated with Christian Home Educators of Colorado May 10, 2008.

Bradley learned to cook when he was in elementary school and felt a culinary degree would open up new opportunities for service in hospitality which would complement his ministry and life goals. He enrolled at the Art Institute of Colorado in Denver the fall he graduated. Throughout his four years of culinary and business study, he was greatly influenced by his chef instructors, who had a major impact on his life, careers, and love of hospitality.

He was inducted into the Alpha Beta Kappa Honor Society on June 14, 2012. On December 14, 2012, Bradley graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Food and Beverage Management from the Art Institute of Colorado.

He worked in a variety of culinary jobs in Denver and Colorado Springs following graduation. It was while he was employed as a chef at the Garden of the Gods Country Club in Colorado Springs he met an adorable blue-eyed blonde named Lauren Rust who worked in the pastry kitchen. They were married on August 12, 2015 and made their home in Colorado Springs.

In 2015, Brad’s great-aunt was moved into a memory care residence in Denver with Alzheimer’s. His dad, Jeff, got a job at the residence so that he could provide daily care for her and Bradley and Lauren quickly followed. Bradley personally attended to her diet and Lauren attended to her personal needs as care giver. Bradley had never considered senior living as a career before, but that experience led to several other jobs as Executive Chef with senior care residences in Colorado Springs. Bradley was engaged in the admission process to Alabama State to pursue a Master of Health Education.

Bradley and Lauren fostered three sets of children over a course of five years and in April of 2023, they officially adopted two little boys, Sterling an Haddon, who are a joy and blessing to the Johnson and Rust families.

Together, Bradley and Lauren were involved at Woodman Valley Chapel’s Rockrimmon campus. Bradley was a member of the security team and involved in a variety of activities.

Bradley’s personal interests and hobbies included golf, archery, skateboarding, Lego design and collecting die cast cars. He was a skilled drummer trained for worship. He loved Broadway musicals, ballets, classical music and symphony concerts, art museums, monster truck jams and car shows.

He was a reader who explored a diverse range of topics which included everything from Bible apologetics, food and nutrition, automotive design and technology, world and American history, to cultural arts and Garfield.

Bradley was creative in areas outside of the kitchen. He restored old furniture, made woodcrafts for his home, and never outgrew his love of Lego and construction kit projects which he shared with Lauren. He was the family car mechanic and handyman that everyone called on.

Eight years ago, Bradley created a business, Colorado Care Supply, to provide specialized products to meet the needs of those with physical and mental disabilities as a result of trauma or genetics – which caters to children, adults, seniors and veterans.

In 33 short years, Bradley touched the lives of countless people. His time on earth was cut short before his prime but his influence on earth will remain.

Bradley is survived by his wife, Lauren, and two sons, Sterling (6) and Haddon (3); his parents, Jeff and Dee Ann Johnson of Colorado Springs; his sibling Melissa Sheldrake of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dr. Arianne Johnson Quinn of Tallahassee, Florida; and Michael Davis Johnson of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by his grandmother Martha Johnson of Loveland, Colorado and grandfather Daryl Davis of Longmont, Colorado.

A private burial for his parents and siblings will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Longmont, Colorado on December 14.

The Johnson family would like to extend an invitation to join them in a “Celebration of Life” service on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 1:00pm in the Stone Chapel on the Rockrimmon Campus of Woodman Valley Chapel, 209 East Woodman Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.

The service will live-streamed at woodmanvalley.org/memorial beginning at 12:50pm.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to Lauren, Sterling and Haddon through https://www.giveinkind.com/inkinds/v105K9t/suporting-the-johnsons-3.

Gifts can also be made to the Rockrimmon Campus of Woodman Valley Chapel through online giving or mailed to the church designated for “Lovewell” which is a fund that supports the needs of those in crisis at home and abroad.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howemortuary.com for the Johnson family.