The Excelsior Standard, May 8, 2026

Nathan “Nate” Lowell Johnson, 82, of Excelsior Springs died April 23, 2026, at his home.

Nate was born March 4, 1944, in Excelsior Springs to Isabel and Leonard Johnson.

He attended the University of Kansas, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and developed a lifelong passion for Jayhawk basketball.

On June 6, 1968, he married Jerrie Elizabeth Cheatham of Lubbock, Texas, in Tempe, Ariz. The couple returned to Excelsior Springs, where they raised their family.

Nate joined the family diary business in the 1970s, working alongside his father and brother before eventually seeing the business through to a successful sale. He then served as business manager of Crowley Furniture for nearly 20 years.

He had a natural gift for numbers and strategy, and was an avid card player, particularly enjoying bridge and poker. He participated in the local poker tournament each year until the end of his life.

He enjoyed frequent trips to Las Vegas, Nev., with lifelong friends and looked forward to summer family vacations, whether to the lakes of Minnesota or the beaches of Delaware alongside his sister Nancy and her family.

Nate was known for his warmth, quiet generosity and genuine care for everyone around him.

He was a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Excelsior Springs, where he served faithfully as treasurer for many years; and served on the board of the Maurer Foundation in Excelsior Springs. Throughout the years, he also served on various city boards and was active in local civic organizations.

Above all, he cherished time with his grandchildren, Oliver and Charlotte.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include Jerrie, his wife of 57 years; his daughter, Kate Johnson Woods and her husband Richard of London; and his son, Josh Johnson and his wife Emily of Lenexa, Kan. Other survivors include his grandchildren, Oliver Nathan and Charlotte Julianne Johnson; sister, Nancy Rich(Dan); and brother, Brad Johnson (Deborah).

He was a proud uncle to 14 nieces and nephews. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Excelsior Springs, the Rev. Jonathan Collison officiating, with a reception immediately following at The Elms Hotel & Spa. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Mauer Foundation (esmuseum.com/maurer-foundation) or St. Lukes’s Episcopal Church (esepiscopal.org).