Ivan was born at Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital May 25, 1951.  He lived most of his life with our father and mother, Clifford and Dorothy Hier-Johnson in their Atascadero Colony home at the end of Maricopa Rd. The home was built by Ivan’s grandfather, J. A. Hier-Johnson.

 Ivan is survived by his sisters Carol Thomason of Portland, OR and Linda Trice of Oakhurst, CA.  

For many years, Ivan was a client of Escuela Del Rio, program for the disabled in Atascadero.  (He is still fondly remembered for his role as ‘Sonny’ in their annual musical).  He loved people and offered a smile and hand of friendship to everyone he met.  He loved music, especially Johnny Cash and The Beatles.  He loved a hamburger, fries and a coke. 

Ivan was made happy by small acts of kindness from caregivers, teachers and friends.  He saw people, all people, as a joy to be welcomed.  

He died of congestive heart failure on July 22, 2020 at Casa de Vida, residence for the disabled, in San Luis Obispo where he received encouraging, compassionate care for the last years of his life.

I write this with gratitude to all who over the years extended a helping hand to Ivan.  We should all be so lucky as to have a brother like him.  He was a gift in our lives and will be missed and remembered always.