Charles (Chuck) Dale Johnson, 69, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, May 30, 2025. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 26,1955 to Charles E. and Ida E. (Newman) Johnson.
Chuck grew up in Kansas City and attended Center High School where he was a member of the golf team and played drums in the marching band. Additionally, he spent his free time bowling with friends, volunteering for political campaigns and driving voters to the polls on election day. He continued his education at the University of Arkansas and graduated from the Walton School of Business in 1978.
He married Teena Marie Morefield on June 24,1978 at Unity Village in Kansas City. Chuck and Teena moved to Lawrence, Kansas in 1988 where they raised their two daughters, Alyssa and Ashley. Chuck enjoyed spending time with his family and was the ultimate girl dad. He enjoyed going shopping with his girls, dancing on stage with Alyssa for her dance recitals, playing golf with Ashley and coaching her basketball team.
Chuck worked in the transportation industry for over 40 years and retired from his career as a Regional Recruiter with ABF Freight/ArcBest in February 2022. He truly enjoyed working and developed life-long relationships with his co-workers. While living and working in Pueblo, Colorado, Chuck was a member of the Transportation Club of Colorado and served one term as President. He was also a Junior Achievement Advisor and guest speaker.
Golfing was Chuck’s greatest passion, and he played whenever his schedule allowed. At age 15, he scored his first hole-in-one at Minor Park. He was so happy when his daughter Ashley took up the sport and became his golf partner. During his retirement, he enjoyed playing on several golf leagues, including the Northland Senior League and the Falcon Lakes Senior League. Chuck fulfilled a lifelong dream in 2022 and traveled to Scotland to attend the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews Golf Course.
Chuck also loved to read. His interest in reading started as a child when he would sit at the kitchen table and read the newspaper to his mother while she cooked breakfast. He was a Civil War buff and spent many hours reading books about the Civil War, U.S. Presidents, and any biography related to business or history.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and his father-in-law Aldie Morefield.
He will be sadly missed by surviving wife Teena, daughter Alyssa of Palm Springs, California, daughter Ashley and son-in-law Thomas Shmalberg of Lawrence, Kansas, his beloved grandson Levi Shmalberg, three sisters, Linda Garner, Judith Johnson, and Cheryle Phillips, his mother-in-law Marie Morefield, his brother and sisters-in-law, Tammy and Wayne Wolff, and Tim and Holly Morefield, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.
Chuck cherished his grandson, Levi. He bought him his first set of golf clubs and they enjoyed going to the driving range and playing mini golf together. When Levi would spendthe night, Chuck started a bedtime routine where he would tell Levi how much he loved him, gave him a kiss and hug, and then he would sing the Willie Nelson tune, “Turn out the lights, the party’s over….”
A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, from 1-3pm at Hixson-Klein Funeral Home 104 W Church St., Smithville, MO 64089.Chuck requested cremation. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Tee Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
