David Randall “Randy” Johns, 59, passed away suddenly on his farm in rural Geary County on Saturday, January 20, 2024.Randy was born on September 4, 1964, in Junction City, KS, the second son of Dennison K. Johns and Vivian R. (Manly) Johns.
Throughout his youth, Randy was active in the Junction City Little Theatre. He worked doing set construction and lighting as well as appearing in a number of on-stage roles including a co-starring turn as Pud with local state senator Merrill Werts in the 1975 JCLT production of On Borrowed Time. Randy traveled extensively throughout the United States with his parents during the 70s, visiting many National Parks, rafting on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon as well as backpacking in the Rocky Mountains and on Isle Royale in the middle of Lake Superior. This would instill in him a lifelong love of and respect for nature and a desire to further explore our beautiful nation.
After graduating from Junction City High School in 1983, he became a Master Carpenter working on projects in Texas and Hawaii before settling into a decades-long career of construction in Northeastern Kansas. He also was an accomplished woodworker completing many furniture pieces.
Randy married Deborah A. Junghans on November 21, 2000, on the island of Maui, Hawaii affirming their love in a ceremony on the beach. They returned to their farm on Clarks Creek Road and Randy became an avid beekeeper. He began providing honey to his family and friends and established Creek House Bees, An Apiary of the Flint Hills in 2016, selling honey at local farmers markets.
His passion project at the time of his death was restoring an historic animal barn on the farm to a rustic creek house overlooking Clarks Creek. Randy was a longtime Kansas State Wildcat fan and he and Debbie attended many football and basketball games at the university. Avid tennis fans as well, they attended the U.S. Open in New York City with his daughter Brandi. He and Debbie loved to travel, returning to float the Grand Canyon together, trips to Estes Park and most recently to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Randy worked tirelessly as a volunteer at the Geary County Food Pantry helping provide sustenance to the food insecure in our community.
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Debbie; one daughter from a previous marriage Brandi Conaway (Dennis) Kemp, TX; two grandchildren Emma Johns and Caleb Conaway, Kemp, TX; Mother Vivian Johns, Junction City; brother Derrick “Rick” Johns (DJ) Junction City; three nephews, Dustin Johns, Kernersville, NC, and Damian Johns, Flagstaff, AZ, Dakota Johns, Wiley, TX, and one niece Destiny Johns and her fiancé Logan McWilliams, Shawnee, KS; three great-nephews Austin, Caison, and Ashton, Wylie, TX and one great-niece Indi, Kernersville, NC; one Uncle Robert Manly, San Luis Obispo, CA; and numerous cousins.He is preceded in death by his father, Dennison K. Johns.
The family will greet friends Wednesday, January 24th, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Junction City. Cremation has taken place, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Geary County Food Pantry Building Fund, 138 W. Third Street, Junction City, KS 66441.