Obituary of Carl Philip Johnson

Carl passed away suddenly at age 22 on Feb. 24, 2021. He is survived by his parents, Bryan and Pam, his sister, Anna, his sister-in-law, Sarah, beloved family dog, Herbie, and many family and friends. He was preceded in passing by his paternal grandmother, Eileen Johnson.

Carl appreciated the finer things in life, including food, art, and travel. The independent restaurant industry held a special place in his heart and he followed that scene closely. Carl regarded chefs on the same level as great artists, but the thrill for him was that they, and their art, were so accessible. One could experience their creations on such a personal level, and he treasured the opportunities to do so. He was even more excited when he could meet them in person and express his gratitude for their talent. Carl was a strong proponent of supporting local restaurants and appreciated their attention to quality ingredients and caring for the customer. He was proud to have worked at several of these venues.

Carl appreciated art in all forms, from Japanese block prints, to Italian marble statuary, to modern-day graffiti. He also marveled at the creative and marketing talent at highend design houses, from fashion, accessories, home decor, and others. He loved all kinds of music and had a long list of favorite films he would frequently watch, syncing them with holidays or seasons throughout the year.

He loved all humanity and was curious about people and cultures all over the world. He was always pre-planning trips, first by seeking out the real food spots. This would lead him to experience the culture and find the hidden gems. He appreciated the beauty in the world, both far and near. His favorite place was New York City where he hoped to one day move.

Carl had a love of learning and would take deep dives into topics such as watches, cars, creative designers, fashion, culinary arts, musicians, or investing. Reading was one of his favorite pastimes and his main resource for knowledge. He said there was so much to learn, that just walking into a library was unsettling, because he could never read all the books. He was always excited to share what he learned from his research or experiences.

He loved dogs of all kinds, and particularly enjoyed seeing them come through the Starbucks drive-thru. He even joked that he was often better friends with the regular dogs than the regular customers.

He battled through everything life threw at him with a strength that very few people could ever have. We will all miss him greatly, but knowing he touched so many lives and brought so much love into the world brings us all peace. Live like Carl - take time to enjoy all the beauty the world has to offer, relish the warmth of the sun, and enjoy delicious food.

A Celebration of Life will be held as an open house format on Sunday, June 18th, from 5:30-8:30 at McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center, located at 13550 Dakota Ave S, in Savage, MN.    

Memorials can be made to The Emily Program or the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. (NRDC).