David Norman Johnson

BONITA SPRINGS, FLORIDA/MADISON-David Norman Johnson, 84, passed away peacefully, with his wife, Anita, and children at his side, on June 27, 2015 at Agrace Hospice Care.  He had been diagnosed with cancer in April of 2012.  David was born in Madison, Wisconsin on March 30, 1931 to Leantine D. Ester and Austin Norman Johnson.   An entrepreneur from an early age, David's ability and ambition in sales began with hawking golf balls at Nakoma Country Club and selling them back to the golfers.  After graduation from West High School in 1949, he served in the United States Air Force.  Upon discharge in 1955, he returned to Madison and began selling cookware, mostly to single, employed young women around downtown Madison and the campus area.  Finding success in cookware sales, he formed his own company, Hope Chest Club.   Later in life,on drives around the area, he could point out building after building and remember how many sets of cookware he sold in each particular one.   In the mid 1960s, he started his career developing and managing various real estate projects such as Oak Tree Apartments, Blueberry Hill Apartments and several elderly housing units in small towns around Wisconsin.  He continued his passion for developing real estate up to the present time, with his latest endeavor, The Pointe luxury apartments, currently under construction.  In the mid 1970s, David and a few partners built the first racquetball club in Madison, The Court Club, on Odana Road.   An avid golfer, David was a 40+ year member of Blackhawk Country Club and a 20+ year member of Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Florida. He achieved an outstanding eight holes-in-one in his lifetime.  David and Anita were fortunate to have traveled to golfing destinations such as Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain and Portugal with special friends. David was married to Anita Meyer on December 28, 1972.  Since 1999, David and Anita have spent winters at their home in Bonita Springs,  forming lasting, wonderful relationships with friends from around the country and Canada. David is survived by Anita, his children, Michael (Lisa), Valerie Martin (David), Patrick "Pappy" (Jackie), Austin, Jeffrey (Robyn), Bradford (Michele), Andrew and David (Darci).  He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; Brandon, Brooke, Nicholas, Hannah, Paxton, Jessica, Haley, Alec, Skylar, Delaney, Adelyn and Everly Johnson.  Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Barbara Johnson , Geneva Knippel and Karen Meyer, brothers-in-law, Marv and Al Meyer along with several nieces and nephews.  He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by his family and many close friends in Madison and Bonita Springs.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Robert and Richard and his best little canine buddy, Bailey. A celebration of David's joyous life will be held at Blackhawk Country Club. 3606 Blackhawk Drive, Madison from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2015.  Memorials may be made to Agrace Hospice Care, the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center or the Dane County Humane Society. Rest in peace, Honey; until we meet again........Anita.  Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com