Jeffrey "Lance" Johnson, 68, of Rock Island passed away on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at home.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, October 2, 2023 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island at 10 a.m. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. prior to the Mass at the church. Rather than flowers, the family welcomes charitable donations to Illinois Planned Parenthood (17 N. State Street, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL. 60602) or the Quad Cities Animal Welfare Center (724 2nd Ave. West, Milan, IL.  61264) in Lance's memory.

Lance began to Rock Around the Clock on March 25, 1955 in St. Louis, Missouri, with his doting parents, H.B. and Ruby (Fults) Johnson and big brother Scott. In 1964, the family moved to Bettendorf, Iowa, where he became The Leader of the Pack of kids on Heather Lane. He graduated from Bettendorf High School, packed up his Kodachrome and began his study at the University of Northern Iowa, where he met That Lady , Shelly Sonderman.  He received his bachelor's degree in business from UNI. Lance did what you do When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman , and he and Shelly married in 1979. Lance worked for AT&T for most of his career in Evansville, IN, until the company couldn't Let it Be and moved him to Indianapolis where he Worked Hard for the Money until he retired in 2015. The next year, he answered his daughter's call of How Deep Is Your Love? and moved back to the Quad Cities.

Lance was well known to Play That Funky Music both on his guitar and On the Radio .  He was an avid Fast Car enthusiast. Lance also enjoyed being Born in the USA and being a pyrotechnic engineer at his annual Fourth of July party that grew each year as he proclaimed "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." Lance will always be remembered for his humor and his egg rolls.  His hobbies included listening to music, playing guitar, and spending time with his grandchildren who he was building into his Band on the Run . Lance spent time volunteering as a member of Knights of Columbus Allouez 658 and with St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island.

Those left to Cherish Lance's memory include his wife, Shelly; daughter, Jennifer (Ben) Houtekier and chosen daughter, Elizabeth (Stinnett) Jackson; grandchildren, Liam, Elliott, Julian and Cracklin' Rosie ; beloved niece and nephew, Rebecca (Hoffmann) Noun and Nick Hoffmann; many other dear nieces and nephews; a host of extended family; and his cats.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Scott (Cindy) Johnson; and his feline companion, Mr. Jones.

We will miss you Lance Romance!

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.wheelanpressly.com.