Obituary, Visitation & Funeral Information

A talented and driven young man, Grant Michael Johnson, age 32, of Bellbrook and Chicago, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021.

He was born April 28th, 1988 to William Johnson and DeAnna Doggett Johnson at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. His family moved to his mother’s hometown when he was two years old and became the fifth generation of the Doggett family to live in Bellbrook, Ohio. Grant had the wonderful experience of growing up in the Winters House on the hill overlooking Bellbrook and loved sharing his home with his many friends. Grant was baptized at and attended Bellbrook Presbyterian Church, where he first demonstrated his charismatic speaking ability.

Grant had surgery to remove his right lung when he was seven years old. He often jokingly complained that he didn’t learn to read until he was much older because he missed most of his kindergarten year. Then amazingly he became such a proficient reader that he could perform hundreds of lines of dialog in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at both Bellbrook High School and Miami University.

Grant refused to let having one lung limit his life goals and activities. He signed himself up for Bellbrook Wee Eagles football when he was in fifth grade because he wanted to play so badly and his family kept on ignoring his entreaties because of his health. Grant went on to play football at Bellbrook for the next seven years. Winning the sixth grade Super Bowl and beating undefeated Milton Union in his last game as a Senior were highlights. Grant also received the Ellinger Eagle Heart Scholarship award because of his characteristics of hard work, perseverance, and leadership both on and off the football field. Grant also had the great honor of being a finalist in the Anthony Munoz Foundation Student of the Year Award his senior of high school in 2007 because he demonstrated the ability to succeed, play football, and excel in school while overcoming great obstacles.

Grant was extremely active in school with many interests. He was also on the Bellbrook track team and in the Bellbrook School choir. He was also likely one of the only active football players to also participate in a Bands of America competition for Bellbrook in the same season. Grant served as a Miami Valley Hospital Volunteen in Dayton, Ohio during his high school years. Additionally, Grant was an avid professional wrestling fan and organized a home trampoline wrestling league in middle school. He had a wrestling try out for the WWE as a high school Senior.

In addition to his other activities, Grant had a passion for theater. He was cast in every play Bellbrook High School produced from his first semester freshman year to playing the lead in the musical My Fair Lady the last play of his senior year. Based on his auditions at Miami University at Oxford, OH, Grant received a theatre scholarship and performed in many productions during his college career. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts of Theatre from Miami University in May 2011.

Grant moved to Chicago on August 30, 2011, to pursue his dream of becoming a part of the Chicago theatre scene. He was a founder and performer in Lindsey’s Calling Improv Group at Second City, Chicago. Grant also founded Level 11 Theatre Productions, where he produced, directed, and acted in several successful plays. He also appeared in several productions of Hell Cab at Chicago’s Profiles Theatre. Grant was still actively involved in Chicago theatre until March 2020, when the Covid-19 global pandemic shut down live theatre productions. Bellbrook became his transitional home again in August 2020 where he got to enjoy spending time with his family. Grant’s kindness, sunny disposition, love for his family and friends will be forever missed.

Grant was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother Dolores Spence Doggett, paternal grandmother Eleanor Johnson, and paternal step-grandmother Meg Johnson.

Grant is survived by his parents William and DeAnna Doggett Johnson, sister Marguerite (Maggie) Johnson, maternal grandfather Don Doggett, paternal grandfather William Johnson, Sr., maternal aunts and uncles Dana and John Duckro, Darlene and Mike Keene, paternal aunts and uncles, Mary Ann and Jim Owens, Mary and Joe Johnson, and Sherri and Ron Koski, and many cousins.

You are invited to a gathering of family and friends on Saturday, January 30, 2021, from 3-5 pm at Conner & Koch Life Celebration Home, 92 W. Franklin St., Bellbrook, Ohio. A life celebration service will follow at 5:00 pm.

You are welcome to send condolences or flowers, plant a tree and share a story or picture about Grant at www.ConnerAndKoch.com by clicking on his name.

During this difficult time, if you are feeling ill or unhealthy in any way, you are encouraged to pay your respects in alternative methods, such as sending a sympathy card or sharing a memory through Grant's online book of memories. In addition, the services will be streamed live via the internet. If you wish to view the services on the live stream, please reach out to Conner & Koch ([email protected]) to be added to the list. If you plan to attend services in person, be sure to bring your mask to wear while you are inside.

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