John Tobing, Composer of 'Darah Juang', Admitted to Hospital Multiple Times Before Passing Away

The creator of the song ‘Darah Juang’, Johnsony Maharsak Lumban Tobing, or John Tobing, passed away on Wednesday (25/2). His youngest son, Gopas Kibar Syang Proudy (18), stated that his father died of a sudden heart attack.

Gopas recounted that John’s health began to decline, requiring him to be hospitalised since November 2025. Since then, John had to go back and forth to the hospital for treatment.

‘(He was admitted to hospital) since 29 November (2025), and returned home on 28 January (2026). Then he was admitted again in early February, on 8 February he was admitted to Hermina Hospital, stayed there for about a week, and then returned home,’ Gopas said when met at the Bethesda Funeral Home, Thursday (26/2/2026).

John then had to return to the hospital on Wednesday (25/2) early in the morning and was immediately taken to the ICU due to a decline in consciousness.

‘Then, on Wednesday this week, he was admitted again because of the decline in consciousness. Initially, I took him to Hermina Hospital, but because he was not yet covered by BPJS (Indonesia’s national health insurance) since his last treatment was at Hermina, he was then taken to RSA UGM again,’ he explained.

On Wednesday night, John suddenly suffered a heart attack. He passed away in the coldness of the ICU without his family by his side. Gopas said that the family was very shocked by John’s sudden death.

‘This was sudden. Actually, we as a family were at home because he was in the hospital and in the ICU, so we couldn’t be there,’ he said.

‘And also that night, at 8:45 pm, we were called by the family, and they said that Father had a heart attack and did not recover, and we all immediately came to the hospital. We were not really prepared because it was so sudden,’ he continued.

John passed away at the age of 59 years and 3 months. His body was laid to rest at the Bethesda Funeral Home and will be buried on Saturday (28/2) at the Madurejo TPU, Prambanan, Sleman.

‘Today there will be a church service at 6:30 pm, and tomorrow there will be the same at 6:30 pm,’ said Gopas.

‘And there is a Matonggo Raja tradition, which is a tradition to prepare for Saturday. When he is taken to the funeral, there will be a worship service,’ he concluded.

(ahr/apl)