Joel Alan Findley

Joel Alan Findley, 39, of Rapid City, passed away unexpectedly, on March 17, 2023. He was born on June 9, 1983, in Traverse City, MI to Roxanne and Mark Findley. Joel spent his younger years enjoying many family adventures and outdoor activities. After living in Traverse City, Alpena and Kalkaska, Joel’s family settled at the south end of Torch Lake when he was ten. There he would spend days fishing, swimming, and boating with his Grandma and Grandpa Estelle and many family members. He loved the lake and the solitude it provided. With family and friends at his side, Joel went on numerous hunting and fishing excursions and was always up for outdoor thrill-seeking adventures and challenges. Many adventures were spent at Fletcher Pond near Alpena. Sisters Brandie and Whitney would beg to go fishing with him and Joel would patiently spend the rest of the day on the water putting worms on, untangling lines, and taking fish off hooks. Joel probably envisioned more fish being caught but memories were made. Being gifted mechanically, Joel would often find random metal parts in a dumpster and put together a bike for Whitney. At 6’4” Joel was forever his sisters’ protector and advocate. Joel’s dad Mark taught him to be the family’s protector. Oftentimes when Mark worked out of town, Joel was the go-to person for his sisters and mom, Roxanne. He adored his mom and once loaded his sisters up in a canoe and paddled to the local hardware store to buy her flowers for Mother’s Day. He was always giving her little trinkets. Joel had many amazing talents but what the family most admired was his patience, compassion, quiet strength, fortitude, and kindness. Mark described his son as the first one to help someone in need but the last one to ask for help. Eva also adored her uncle Joel especially when he landed a drone on top of her head and got tangled up in her hair. In the past ten years, Joel has been an integral part of his Grandma Estelle’s life. He has taken care of her with compassion and never passed up the chance to include her in adventures such as panning for gold in the Rapid River at 2:00 am. Throughout his life Joel worked at jobs suitable to his mechanical strengths. He was a jack of many trades and most recently he worked at Alpine Electric. Joel also worked in the oil field business in South Dakota. In August of 2021, Joel’s son Wyatt was born. Wyatt instantly became the light of his life. With his toy tools, he worked in his daddy’s garage and helped him dismantle and build things. After hanging in the man cave, Joel took his son for rides, flew kites, and introduced Wyatt to Torch Lake. He is survived by his son Wyatt (Alisha and family), parents Roxanne and Mark Findley, sisters Brandie Findley, Whitney (Bob) McCartney, Eva Findley, and Grandmother Irene Estelle, nephew Fin, along with a multitude of cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. Joel is preceded in death by Grandma and Grandpa Findley, and Grandpa Estelle. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Joel’s son, Wyatt Findley. A memorial service for Joel will be held at Kalkaska Funeral Home on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 1:00 PM, the family will receive friends beginning at 12:00 PM until the time of service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Joel Alan Findley

June 9, 1983 - March 17, 2023