David Johns

(From Parker Mortuary)

Dr. David Johns, 90, of Joplin, passed away April 10, 2021.

Dr. Johns was born April 8, 1931 in Des Plaines, Illinois, son of the late Otto and Gertrude (Behrens) Johns. 

He married Margaret E. Kaste on December 26, 1954 in Chicago. She preceded him in death on January 2, 2013. 

Dr. Johns is survived by his daughter, Susan Johns-Smith, and husband Robert, of Pittsburg, Kansas as well as sister-in-law Jorun Johns of Riverside, California, and nieces and nephews. His brother Donald C. Johns, Riverside, California, also preceded him in death.

David Johns graduated from the Luther Institute in Chicago in 1947 and Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois in 1954. He received the Bachelor of Music (1960) and Master of Music (1961) degrees from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, Illinois. He received the Ph.D. in Music from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma in 1969. He served on the music faculty of St. John’s College, Winfield, Kansas from 1963-1972.

In 1975, Dr. Johns graduated from Concordia Seminary, Springfield, Illinois and served as a parish pastor in congregations in Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri. In 1984 he embarked on another phase of ministry, hospital chaplain¸ serving as Director of Pastoral Care at Lutheran Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri for several years.

Dr. Johns was an accomplished organist and served as organist and choir director in Lutheran and Episcopal congregations in Oklahoma, Illinois, and Missouri, including Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Carthage Missouri, and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Joplin, Missouri. He was a proud member of the American Guild of Organists.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church with Fr. Frank Sierra officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Joplin, Missouri, or to Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry, https://www.lutheranchurchcharities.org/k-9-comfort-dogs-about.html