It seems easy for many people to sum a man’s life into a book or a story, but this is an impossible task when you talk about Joel. For those of you who know or know of Joel, you understand why you wanted to talk to him when you discovered his presence in a room. This was even the case for total strangers. People from all walks of life would gravitate to him because they would sense his good nature and hearty personality. He was often referred to as a teddy bear because he was just that lovable. Joel was a brilliant man, often too brilliant for his own good. You would see glimmers of his brilliance when he would talk about engineering, various philosophical topics, and of course, Saved by the Bell. No one of average intelligence could recite all the lines from all the episodes, on command… but Joel could. And you probably know all this already because you were considered friends, even if you met only once. Joel was incredibly passionate about the friendships he’s made over the years and he was always driven by loyalty. If you wondered how he could be such an integral part of so many different groups of friends, it’s because he held no boundaries for those who simply gave him a couple minutes of their day or week. And a couple minutes was all it took for you to have a memorable time because he would find humor in the most trivial and insignificant things. Joel would say something and someone would always ask, “where did you hear that?” or “ what movie is that from?” and he would respond with “It’s from me.” A laughless night was out of the question with him being nearby. And he had a laugh that could rid the world of illness, which you heard all the time because he was simply considered a happy guy. And although his kind and gentle nature was what he exhibited all the time, he had a protective instinct which made anyone near him feel safe. He would put himself in harm’s way to avoid seeing others get hurt. There was a genuine coolness about him and he always had a desire for adventure, whether it was a local adventure or beyond. He always wanted to accomplish what he set out to do, which is what lead him to California. Joel always talked about moving to California to experience something new and different. And in typical Joel-fashion, he decided it was the right time and did not hesitate. He accomplished one of his lifelong dreams, which is saying a lot for someone in their mid thirties. However, accomplishing his goals has never come without a cost.

Joel always maintained a healthy lifestyle like many others out there, but unlike others, Joel’s healthy lifestyle was a necessity rather than a choice. His health problems haunted him over the years but you would never know that because of his lust for life. His health issues eventually came down to a culminating event on the night of Monday, December 7th, 2015 when Joel suffered from a heart attack in his sleep sending him into a state of coma. With doctors working around the clock, Joel became stable and there was a hope for a recovery, not just because the doctors provided the right care, but because Joel was strong.  Many tests, scans, and procedures were completed to ensure a recovery. However, the hope for a recovery was stripped away with a series of seizures that forced doctors to do more tests, scans, and procedures.

Adhering to Joel’s wishes, he was placed in comfort care where friends and family from all over the country came to visit, called and talked to him through earphones, and sent their prayers and well wishes. After receiving all the love that he could, Joel passed on the night of Thursday, December 17th, 2015. He is survived by his parents, his brother and his family, his sister and her family, and all of his close friends who he looked at as brothers and sisters.

With the high cost of the healthcare Joel received and because his family and friends want him to be close to their hearts in Illinois, we are asking for donations to help his family relieve the bills not covered by insurance, his transport back to Illinois, and funeral arrangements. We will be grateful for any amount donated. Joel is looking down at all of us and is grateful for the love and support that we have shown him. He will continue to make us feel safe because he is with us and in our hearts forever.