Family and friends in Colorado and Michigan are mourning the loss of Sven Eryk Johnson, a 31-year-old Castle Rock electrician who died Monday, June 15, leaving behind a fiancée, two devoted parents, two siblings, a niece and nephews he adored, and a wide circle of people who say his warmth was impossible to forget.
Johnson was born on October 19, 1994, in Rochester, Michigan, and grew up in Clarkston, where he graduated from high school in 2012.
He later built a career as a Lead Journeyman Electrician, a trade his family says he was genuinely proud of and one that connected him with countless friends and coworkers over the years.
A Presence That Drew People In
Those who knew Johnson describe him as a rare kind of person — someone whose kindness and energy made others feel noticed and cared for the moment they met him.
He was known for a contagious laugh and a smile that seemed to brighten whenever he was around the people and causes he loved most, especially his niece, Kyler, and nephew, Micah.
Friends and relatives called him an old soul and a deep thinker, someone who was equally creative and grounded. He threw himself fully into life, whether that meant tackling a new hiking trail, setting up camp in the mountains, biking for miles, or simply chasing whatever adventure presented itself. He played hockey for years and never lost his love for the game.
Johnson also had a playful side that became something of a tradition among those close to him — he treated Halloween as a month-long celebration rather than a single night.
Music mattered deeply to him, too; he and his brother shared a long-running love of the band Phish, building memories together at shows and beyond.
He is survived by his fiancée, Leah Siebert; his parents, Susan (Sam) Brokaw and Scott (Nicole) Johnson; his siblings, Elyse (Jesse) Kessler and Jorgen Johnson; his niece, Kyler; his nephew, Micah; and his cat, Villian, whom the family affectionately calls “the best kitty.”
Two Communities Will Gather to Celebrate His Life
Because Johnson’s life touched people in both Colorado, where he built his career and home, and Michigan, where he was raised, his family has planned two separate celebrations so that everyone who loved him has the chance to come together.
The Colorado gathering was held Sunday, June 21, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Millhouse at Philip S. Miller Park, 1381 W. Plum Creek Parkway in Castle Rock. Family invited guests to share stories, laughter, and tears as they honored his memory.
A second celebration is planned for Monday, July 13, in Michigan at The Fed, located at 15 S. Main St. in the Village of Clarkston. Exact timing has not yet been finalized, and organizers have asked that anyone interested check back closer to the date for updates.
Johnson’s family has also invited friends and acquaintances to contribute photos, stories, and memories of him, saying they hope to preserve the full picture of how many lives he touched.
“He will be missed more than words can ever say,” his family wrote, adding that Johnson leaves behind “a hole that cannot be filled, and a love that will never fade.”
Arrangements are being handled by Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel in Castle Rock, part of the Dignity Memorial network.
