Search by Name

Search by Name

FUNERAL HOME

William D. Elkin Funeral Home - North East

65 South Lake Street

North East, Pennsylvania

Sean Johnson Obituary


Sean S. Johnson, age 56, of North East, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2014. He was born in Erie, the son of Richard J. Johnson of Erie and the late Mary Margaret Johnson.

Sean graduated from Mercyhurst High School, and worked briefly in both the Federal and County courthouses. An entrepreneur at heart, he then owned Sullivan's Beer Distributor, and then moved to the North East area, where he owned and operated RJ's Campground for the past 25 years.

Sean was a member of the Erie Maennerchor Club, where he and his family volunteered for the annual Christmas charity event. He was an active member of the Brotherhood of St. Joseph's club. Sean was a good friend to all; a sentimental man with a tremendous gift for making people laugh. His generous spirit was evident in his various fundraising activities and his willingness to take care of those around him. He was an avid sports fan, particularly of the Dallas Cowboys, St. Greg's Crusaders and the Cathedral Prep Ramblers. He believed his greatest accomplishment to be his three sons.

Sean is survived by his wife, Stephanie DePalma-Johnson and his sons, Richard J. of Corolla, N.C., Nicholas D. of Edinboro, and Kyle S. Johnson at home. Sean is also survived by brother Jeffrey J. Johnson (Wendy), sister Gretchen and stepmother Lois Gilson-Johnson. He is also survived by in-laws Marlene Stroup (Ronald), Michael DePalma, Mary Kirkpatrick (Timothy), Lori Rupp (Butch), Louis DePalma (Shelly), James DePalma and Mario DePalma (Denise). Sean leaves behind many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and treasured friends.

Friends may call at the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East, on Thursday 2-4 and 7-9, and are invited to attend a prayer service on Friday at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., at St. Gregory Catholic Church. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family, in care of the funeral home.

Please send condolences to elkinfh.com.

Sign the Guestbook at www.GoErie.com/obits

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Gazette from May 28 to May 29, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Sean Johnson

Not sure what to say?





November 30, 2014

Happy Birthday Sean!! I always use to send you a card on your birthday & you'd always say," why do you send me a card when I live up the street'? b/c you are my friend., that's why!! Hope your birthday in heaven is as wonderful as you are. I miss you.
Take Care, love you, Tia


'

Marlene

June 20, 2014

Sean was such a great guy. I still use his jokes and probably always will. They never fail to make people laugh. He had a gift for it right from the very beginning. He was a great Dad and gave to the world three great kids to carry on his legacy. Sean may be gone from us now but his memory will live on. Let us count our blessings as we mourn and celebrate all the smiles he gave us.

June 7, 2014

Uncle Richard, Jeff, Gretchen -just received a note from my sister, I am deeply saddened by the loss of my Sean… He was smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman
Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same
A lovable cousin who was always a pleasure to be around. He could always put a smile on your face.
I have alot of found memories with Sean,
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. I love you man...........
Your Cuz,
Ivan Johnson III
Fort Myers, Fl

June 5, 2014

To the friends of Sean Johnson:
Thank you for all your kind words & thoughts regarding Sean's life/ I know your presence whether here or at the funeral have given our family the strength to get through this trying time. It has comforted all of us especially our father who is so overwhelmed by the amount of friends my brother had. Please pray for all of us especially Stephanie, RJ, Nick & Kyle and my dad. It will be a tough Father's Day all the way around. He's back with mom. Thank you, thank you.
Brother,
Jeffrey J. Johnson

Wendy Post

June 4, 2014

Stephanie,RJ,Nick,Kyle and Family,such a shock to us all to hear about Sean,he will surely be missed by many.Sean would be there to help anybody who needed it and he was a great friend to many people.My heart goes out to you all in this time of great sorrow,he is safe within God's arm's now.You are in my thoughts and prayers...God Bless

john Anderson

June 3, 2014

Jeff and Gretchen

I write this with a sad heart. Sean was the only kid in 2nd grade who could pull off wearing an ascot in his school picture. No one else will ever be that cool to me. I have a lot of great memories. Sean and your dad did a lot for me and I will be forever greatful! Hope you two are well.

Michelle Natale

May 30, 2014

Steph, RJ, Nick and Kyle may you have the strength to get through this horrible time. I'm sorry I can't be there. I will miss Sean's phone calls. I love you guys.... You are in my prayers!
Michelle Natale

Marcy Sherman

May 30, 2014

May my cousin Sean Johnson rest in peace, and may peace remain with Stephanie, their children, and all of us who loved him and will miss him.

Mark Hooven

May 30, 2014

Gretchen,

We are so very sorry for your loss. Best wishes to you and your family always.

Mark & Becky Hooven

May 30, 2014

JEFF,GRETCHEN AND FAMILY..MY DEEP SYMPATHY ON THE PASSING OF SEAN. DAVID MYERS

May 29, 2014

Johnson Family,
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He will be sadly missed.
The Renner Family

Fawn Rose Murray

May 29, 2014

I'm so very sorry for your loss. Hoping the love of friends and family will help carry you through your grief.

Joseph and Cynthia Cuzzola

May 29, 2014

To the Johnson family my deepest sympathy and prayers and thoughts are with you and he rest in peace

Kristin Patterson

May 29, 2014

Jeffrey, Wendy and Gretchen and family,
I am so sorry to hear of Sean's passing. I have wonderful fond, laughing memories of him. Sending lots of love and prayers.

May 29, 2014

Jeff, Gretchen, & Mr. Johnson,
Our sympathies go out to the family on the loss of Sean. You are all in our prayers.
God Bless.
Debby & Gary Skovron

Kathy Griffith

May 29, 2014

Dear Nick and Family,
We are so sorry about the loss of your dad. He sounds like a wonderful man. You and your brothers will carry him with you forever. I love what your mom listed in his obituary - that you boys are his greatest accomplishment. With prayers and sympathy,
John, Kathy, Jake and Josh Griffith

Matt

May 29, 2014

Sean was a good 'ol boy. He had a great sense of humor and a sunny outlook on life. Had not seen him in years but I remember him as a great guy. Saddened to hear he passed at such a young age. My best to his family in what must be a tough time. Sean will live on in spirit.

May 29, 2014

Dear Steph,
So sorry to hear of Seans passing, our deepest heartfelt condolences to you and the boys. Anything I can do to help please let me know, we didn't know Sean that long but you knew him (he was so open) the first time you met him. Our prayers are with you and the boys.. Bob and Jill Double
Double

celia trusty

May 29, 2014

I'm so sorry for your loss.. He was a good man. Praying for you guys.

Renee Horton

May 29, 2014

Gretchen, Jeff and the Johnson family, Sean will be missed, his spirit of love will remain. God Bless.

Gary Miles

May 29, 2014

Prayers

Ken Slaney

May 29, 2014

Stephanie,RJ, Nick and Kyle:

I am sorry for your loss. I enjoyed talking with your father at SGS events and I know how very proud he was of his family.

Gretchen (Litowkin) Tome

May 29, 2014

Stef, Jeff and Gretchen...I am so sad to hear of Sean's passing. I have so many good memories of him from back on 24th Street. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

Tracy Ksenich

May 29, 2014

I'm so sorry Steph and family to hear of Sean's passing. He was such a nice man. It isn't going to be the same walking into the St Joe's Club for lunch and not getting that warm greeting and that huge smile. I'm really going to miss him. He will be greeted in the gates of heaven the way he greeted others. With open arms and smiles!!!

Loraine Fetzer

May 29, 2014

I am so very sorry for your loss. I am holding your family in my prayers.

May 29, 2014

Jeff and family,
I am sorry for the loss of your brother. I can remember meeting Sean when I worked for you - he seemed to just enjoy life so much! It is sad to lose someone so young. God Bless you and be with you now and always.
Joyce Jones

Tina Tackett

May 29, 2014

We were shocked and saddened by the news of Sean's passing. The kids have so many memories of growing up along side you guys. Prayers for you all....Tina, Bobby, Cory, Jordan and Sarah

Eileen & John Agostini

May 29, 2014

To all of the Johnson family,
You all have our deepest sympathy, we all loved how Sean was with everybody, that great personality. We will miss him.

mary busch

May 29, 2014

sooooo sorry.... sean will be missed.. :(

kathy malesiewski

May 29, 2014

My sympathy to the entire family. Sean was such a caring man. Always there to help. He will be missed by many.

Jamie Arrigo

May 28, 2014

To the family of Sean I am very sorry for your loss and I Keep you in my prayers. I got to know Sean well over the past years and he was a stand up guy. He was one of the nicest and definitely most generous guys ive ever met. Im gonna miss him. God Bless

Lynne Karle-Wright

May 28, 2014

Jeffery and Gretchen, I am so sad to hear of Sean's passing. I will always remember Sean and all the fun and laughs we had. He was a good soul. My deepest condolences go out to you and your family.

DORIS WILSON

May 28, 2014

STEF AND FAMILY,
MY GOODNESS, I JUST AM SHOCKED. I WILL MISS HIM. ALMOST EVERYONE WAS HIS FRIEND AND ALWAYS A HARDY INFECTOUS LAUGH FOR YOU EVEN ON YOUR WORST DAY. I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM AS HE MADE ME LAUGH FOR THE HARDEST, LONGEST TIME IN ALL MY LIFE ONE DAY.I AM HERE WHEN YOU NEED ME.

Denise Knight

May 28, 2014

I am so sorry to read of Seans passing. I shared lots of good times with Sean and the gang in our teens. I just thought of Sean the other day and then read in the paper he had passed. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. There was no one like Sean.

Ellen Welsh-Poulson

May 28, 2014

So sorry for your loss...such a sad thing.You will be in my prayers.

Lenore & Don Coffman

May 28, 2014

Steph and family.We only knew sean for a short time but he will be sadly missed..this was our 2nd summer spending it at the campground and we loved coming there...he partied,laughed and shared fun times with us..he was a friend to all and everyone loved him...my thoughts and prayers are sent your way..he is in a good place now and someday we will all be there to party with him once again..stay strong for the memories will always be alive..

Joseph and Cindy Cuzzola

May 28, 2014

My deepest sympathy to all of the Johnson family prayers thoughts are with you

Lynn Demuth Averbeck

May 28, 2014

My deepest sympathy to Sean's family and friends. I hung out with Sean during those wonderful formative teen years before I left Erie at the age of 18. Although many years have passed since then (I'm 56 now) and I lost touch with him, my memories of Sean always come with a smile. He was my first male friend and first prom date, and I will never forget him. From reading these posts, it is nice to see that he was a good man and had a rewarding life. I am sad that I will not have an opportunity to reconnect with Sean in this life. May he rest in peace.

Michael Brigham

May 28, 2014

Sean was a guy I could always talk to,was there to help if you needed it,and we shared a few beers and a lot of laughs together will be missed by all who knew him.

Kathy Reagan

May 28, 2014

Gretchen and Richard so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother.Tho I haven't seen Sean in over 20 years, the memories of the fun together with the gang are vivid in my mind. I'm sure he will be sadly missed... you're in my prayers at this most difficult time.

May 28, 2014

SEAN THOUGH WE DIDN'T KNOW YOU THAT LONG, MURPH AND I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR SMILE AND LAUGHTER. YOU WOULD COME OVER TO OUR SITE AND ALWAYS HAVE SOME GREAT STORIES TO TELL. YOU WILL BE FOREVER MISSED BY ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. FLY HIGH TO THAT BEAUTIFUL WORLD WE CALL HEAVEN. PRAYERS TO STEF AND YOUR BOYS.

Dana Anderson

May 28, 2014

Condolances.

Tony Thomas

May 28, 2014

Dear Stef and boys, More a friend than a cousin, my favorite pain in the butt. Never replaced and always remembered. Love him and all off you. T, Dalton & Anthony

May 28, 2014

Dear Mr. Johnson, Gretchen, Jeff and Family of Sean:

I wanted to extend my deepest sympathy to all of you. I remember Sean as you accurately described him and more...always very kind to me and what a terrific sense of humor.

May God bless you and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in Peace Sean.

Fondly
Nancy Zurn

Keith Potter

May 28, 2014

Steph, R.J., Nick & Kyle - I can't begin to tell you how much we are all going to miss him...Shared a lot of good times with him over the years. Sean was one of a kind and always fun to be around. I'm at a loss for words...You are all in my thoughts and prayers, if there is anything you need please call.

Wes Richardson

May 28, 2014

My prayers are with Sean's family and Sean . I was his newest camper and he treated me very nice.

Roseann and Melvin Johnson-Barbee

May 28, 2014

Gretchen and Jeff,

Please accept my sincere condolences. I was very surprised to see that Sean had passed away. He was such a good friend of me and my family, he had a gift of gab and we would always laugh at anything he would say. He will be sorely missed. He's in heaven with your mother.

Tia Irwin

May 28, 2014

Dear Stephanie, I am so sorry to hear about Sean, my deepest sympathy to you. Sean was the 2nd person I met after moving to Erie. We had lots of good times that will never be forgotten. Sean, I love you, RIP your were truly one of my closest friends. So glad I stopped to see you back in the fall, wish we had made that lunch date.Keep that party going! love & miss you, Tia

Vern Lewis

May 28, 2014

So sorry for your loss. His smile will be missed, My thoughts and prayers are with you.

SHARON HENDERSON

May 28, 2014

TO STEPHANIE, RJ, NICHOLAS, KYLE JOHNSON/DEPALMA FAMILIES ..I WAS SO VERY SAD AND SHOCKED TO HEAR OF SEAN PASSING...SEAN HAD THE ABLITIY TO MAKE YOU LAUGH WHETHER IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE..HE WAS A SPECIAL PERSON WITH A CARING HEART..HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED..MAY GOD GIVE YOU SWEET MEMORIES OF A LIFE WELL LIVED AND LOVE OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.. "TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY, IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD" HE IS AN ANGEL NOW WATCHING OVER YOU..

Holly Sawatsky

May 28, 2014

Dear Stephanie,
I am so sad to hear to hear about Sean's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your sons at this difficult time. I do remember how funny Sean could be. I also know that you could not have a better angel watching over you and your sons. Please take care,

Mary Dwyer

May 28, 2014

My deepest sympathy to the whole Johnson family. Sean was such a nice guy and my heart is very sad to hear of his passing. Thoughts and prayers with you.

May 28, 2014

Steph,

My prayers are with you and your family..
Penni Federici

Debi Knight

May 28, 2014

My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. We shared a lot of great times at the Brotherhood, they will be lasting memories.

May 28, 2014

I would always have a laugh with Sean,and if you needed help with some thing he was there,will be missed,later Brother Comarde.

Showing 1 - 55 of 55 results

Make a Donation
in Sean Johnson's name

Memorial Events
for Sean Johnson

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

William D. Elkin Funeral Home - North East

65 South Lake Street, North East, PA 16428

How to support Sean's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Sean Johnson's life and legacy
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more