Shane Brandon "Digger" Johnson

KEARNEY - Shane Brandon Johnson "Digger," 47, of Hildreth died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney after suffering a massive heart attack in Franklin.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth with the Rev. Caroline Keenan officiating. The service will be livestreamed to the church's Facebook and YouTube pages.
Interment will follow the service at the Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, south of Hildreth.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth.
Craig Funeral Home in Minden is in charge of arrangements.
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The first child of Stephen and Melanie Johnson, Shane was born in Minden on Oct. 22, 1974. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Upland on Dec. 22, 1974, and was confirmed at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Hildreth on May 7, 1989.
He grew up in the Upland area, attended school in a one room school in Macon until second grade and then attended school in Minden. He graduated with the Class of 1993 and later attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and University of Nebraska at Kearney. While at UNK, he worked for Horner-Lieske Mortuary where he developed a strong desire to become a funeral director. He met Nicole Aldrich while attending UNK and they added Alexis Brieann Johnson on Jan. 31, 1997. They were married on May 24, 1997, in Holdrege. They lived in Holdrege for a couple of years and he worked for Landmark in the parts department. Then his "dream" once again appeared to become a funeral director.
In the winter of 1999, they moved to Houston, Texas, where he enrolled in Commonwealth Mortuary School. He graduated the following winter with an associate's degree in mortuary science. He worked for Earthman Rest Haven Funeral Home in Houston.
Shane and Nicole later divorced but remained dedicated co-parents to Alexis. Shane met Joyelle Hackett and her two children, Kendall Mae and Dillon Natrel, and they, along with Alexis, became a blended family. Shane and Joyelle were married Sept. 22, 2005, in Houston. Shane, Joyelle and her two children moved to Georgia, where he became a welder.
In 2012, the family moved to Nebraska "home" for yet another career change. He began working for Royal Plastics in Minden and finally found a place at CPI in Franklin, where he was assistant manager at the time of his death.
Shane was an avid sports fan. He followed many teams, but his "favorite" was the Green Bay Packers. While in high school he played basketball and later coached Dillon's team in Minden. He enjoyed playing cards (Scat and Pitch), PlayStation, and spending time with family and friends. He also enjoyed helping people whenever he could.
Shane was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hildreth and Sons of the American Legion in Upland.
Survivors include his daughter, Alexis Brieann Johnson of Houston; parents, Stephen and Melanie Johnson of Upland; brother, Brent and KatieAnn Johnson of Duluth, Minn., and their children Keller Joseph and River Blume; sister-in law, Mary Johnson and children Kaleb Frederick, Kip David, Kolt Ryan and Parker Reinette "Bob" of Upland; wife, Joyelle of South Carolina; stepchildren, Kendall Hackett and Dillon Hackett of Georgia; aunts and uncles, Suzanne and Steven Fries, Sandy and Jerry Lieberth, Sheila Knott, Stan Johnson, Fred and Nancy Blume, and Rose Blume; as well as a host of cousins and close friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Seth Ryan Johnson; his grandparents, Lee and Ruth Johnson, and Frederick and Freda Blume.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the Nebraska Suicide Prevention Coalition or to the American Heart Association.
Visit craigfunerals.com to leave condolences.