CLEVELAND, OHIO - David "Cow" Johnson, a truck driver who built and collected vintage hot rods, died Saturday after a four-month struggle with esophageal cancer. He was 59.
Johnson was born in Fairview Park and raised in Rocky River. In high school, he hung around with a group of boys who jokingly gave each other barnyard animal nicknames such as "Goose" and "Ducky."
"His nickname stuck with him for life," said his wife, Patricia. "He was a very big man. Big like a cow."
Johnson had a passion for hot rods. He was a member of the Choppers Hot Rod Association, and each Christmas season he appeared as Santa Claus in Cruisin' Times Magazine.
"He'll be in it this year, too," said his wife. "They took his picture early because they knew he was sick."
Besides driving a truck for various companies, Johnson owned and operated taverns over the years - the Red Rooster in Westlake, the Golden Nugget on W. 25th Street in Cleveland and Cow's Barn and Grill on Harvard Avenue in Newburg Heights.
Besides his wife, Johnson is survived by four stepchildren and a sister.
Services were held yesterday at Ripepi funeral home in Parma.
Johnson was born in Fairview Park and raised in Rocky River. In high school, he hung around with a group of boys who jokingly gave each other barnyard animal nicknames such as "Goose" and "Ducky."
"His nickname stuck with him for life," said his wife, Patricia. "He was a very big man. Big like a cow."
Johnson had a passion for hot rods. He was a member of the Choppers Hot Rod Association, and each Christmas season he appeared as Santa Claus in Cruisin' Times Magazine.
"He'll be in it this year, too," said his wife. "They took his picture early because they knew he was sick."
Besides driving a truck for various companies, Johnson owned and operated taverns over the years - the Red Rooster in Westlake, the Golden Nugget on W. 25th Street in Cleveland and Cow's Barn and Grill on Harvard Avenue in Newburg Heights.
Besides his wife, Johnson is survived by four stepchildren and a sister.
Services were held yesterday at Ripepi funeral home in Parma.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - David "Cow" Johnson, a truck driver who built and collected vintage hot rods, died Saturday after a four-month struggle with esophageal cancer. He was 59.
Johnson was born in Fairview Park and raised in Rocky River. In high school, he hung around with a group of boys who jokingly gave each other barnyard animal nicknames such as "Goose" and "Ducky."
"His nickname stuck with him for life," said his wife, Patricia. "He was a very big man. Big like a cow."
Johnson had a passion for hot rods. He was a member of the Choppers Hot Rod Association, and each Christmas season he appeared as Santa Claus in Cruisin' Times Magazine.
"He'll be in it this year, too," said his wife. "They took his picture early because they knew he was sick."
Besides driving a truck for various companies, Johnson owned and operated taverns over the years - the Red Rooster in Westlake, the Golden Nugget on W. 25th Street in Cleveland and Cow's Barn and Grill on Harvard Avenue in Newburg Heights.
Besides his wife, Johnson is survived by four stepchildren and a sister.
Services were held yesterday at Ripepi funeral home in Parma.
Johnson was born in Fairview Park and raised in Rocky River. In high school, he hung around with a group of boys who jokingly gave each other barnyard animal nicknames such as "Goose" and "Ducky."
"His nickname stuck with him for life," said his wife, Patricia. "He was a very big man. Big like a cow."
Johnson had a passion for hot rods. He was a member of the Choppers Hot Rod Association, and each Christmas season he appeared as Santa Claus in Cruisin' Times Magazine.
"He'll be in it this year, too," said his wife. "They took his picture early because they knew he was sick."
Besides driving a truck for various companies, Johnson owned and operated taverns over the years - the Red Rooster in Westlake, the Golden Nugget on W. 25th Street in Cleveland and Cow's Barn and Grill on Harvard Avenue in Newburg Heights.
Besides his wife, Johnson is survived by four stepchildren and a sister.
Services were held yesterday at Ripepi funeral home in Parma.
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