Joel Stelzer

Joel Stelzer (62) passed away Saturday, July 7, 2018 at his home in Sioux Falls SD. At his request, he did not want a funeral and we will be respecting his wishes.

Joel was born July 23, 1955 in Orange, CA, the son of Herbert and Beverly (Gerry) Stelzer. The family moved to Dell Rapids SD where he attended Dell Rapids High School until 1973. After high school, he began work for a water tower construction company and traveled throughout the Midwest and Southeast. You can see his handy-work in Baltic SD, Baxter MN, Pueblo CO, Paducah KY, Baton Rouge LA, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. He moved back to Dell Rapids and began work with LG Everist. He moved to Sioux Falls in 1980. While still employed with Everist, he attended Southeast Technical Institute and received his degree in HVAC/R in 1992. In 1996 he began work at Sanford Medical Center where he completed the Architectural Engineering/Construction Management program in 2002.

As a kid, Joel ran a trap-line along the Sioux River and checked it every morning before school. This love of the outdoors continued into adulthood with a passion for hunting, fishing and conservation. He went on many hunting trips for elk, antelope, deer and pheasant with his brother, Mark and/or friends Dan, Schulte and Cisco.

Joel is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his daughter, Melissa (Clint) Schull of Piedmont; his grandchildren, Bryanna of Dell Rapids, Jade and Ethan both of Sioux Falls; his incredible partner in life, Cindy Stepp; his sister, Vicki Kennedy of Dell Rapids; his brothers, Mark (Kim) Stelzer of Jackson, WY and Dana Stelzer of Dell Rapids.

There will be a memorial to remember Joel in the next couple months with music, food and refreshments.

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