Joel Christ

JOEL G. CHRIST was born on August 14, 1970 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Gregory and Julie (Wabeke) Christ. As a young child Joel, had a very charismatic nature. He grew up in a very loving family and grew into a very gentle, kind, unselfish, patient and caring man. Every one that met him enjoyed his presence and loved being around him. Joel worked a paper route, mowed lawns, worked on a bean walking crew, worked at Hardee’s, and Ellison’s. During his school years, Joel played trumpet in the Pipestone High School Band and was a member of the Boy Scouts. As a young teenager, Joel asked Christ into his life and was baptized with his father at the Ihlen State Park in Ihlen, Minnesota. Joel graduated from Pipestone High School in 1988. Following his education, Joel attended college in Brainerd, Minnesota, studying natural resources technology. Following that, Joel worked at the Palisades State Park south of Garretson, South Dakota. Joel continued to live in Pipestone, where he married his soulmate, Lynn Strobel on April 16, 1994. A few months after their marriage, the couple moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and continued to live there until 2001. That same year, Joel received his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Colorado Technical University. The couple then moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Joel worked for IBM in software engineering. In 2003, Joel retired from IBM and moved with Lynn to Northfield, Minnesota. After a couple of years in Northfield, the couple decided to move from Minnesota and began living in Longmont, Colorado. They lived in Longmont until 2009, when they then moved to Mead, Colorado. In 2015, Joel and Lynn returned to Minnesota and made their home in Ramsey, Minnesota. To celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, Joel and Lynn traveled to Auckland, New Zealand. Due to medical complications, Joel was brought to the Auckland City Hospital. He remained in the hospital with his beloved wife by his side. Joel died peacefully in the Auckland City Hospital on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at the age of 48 years and eight months.

While living in Colorado, Joel was a board member of the Westview Christian Community Church, assisted in the church’s nursery, volunteered to work the church’s sound board, and helped remodel the church. Joel enjoyed computer gaming, reading, woodworking, and hunting. Even though Joel struggled with his health, he was a fighter and had a positive outlook on life. No matter what was happening in his life, Joel made it his goal to make others laugh. Above all else, Joel loved the time that he was able to spend with his family, friends, and his dog.

Joel is lovingly remembered by his wife, Lynn; his parents, Greg and Julie Christ of Pipestone; his siblings, Ryan (Maggie Hysjulien) Christ of Rosemount, Minnesota, Jodi (Scott) Hager of New Ulm, Minnesota, Briana (Darrell) Stahl of Bridgewater, South Dakota, and Stephanie Nwala of Spirit Lake, Iowa; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Rodney (Lynda) Strobel of Sioux Falls, Douglas Strobel of Nelson, Minnesota, Debra (Gary) Vanden Bosch of Richmond, Minnesota, and Dianne Kracht of St. Cloud, Minnesota; his maternal grandparents, Gerritt and Betty Wabeke; his aunts and uncles; cousins; and many adoring nieces and nephews. Joel was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Ralph and Phyllis Christ; and his mother- and father-in-law, Freemond and Jeanine Strobel.