Joel Emerson Kavanagh

Joel Kavanagh, age 58, of rural Correll, passed away Sunday, December 11, 2022, in his home.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m., Friday, December 16, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton.  Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the church.  Pastor Herbert Rotunda will officiate.  Burial will be in Appleton City Cemetery.  The service will be live-streamed on the Zion Lutheran Church (Appleton, Minnesota) YouTube channel.

Joel Emerson Kavanagh was born December 8, 1964, to Loren and Inga "Bonnie" Kavanagh of Appleton, Minnesota.  He was baptized and confirmed at the First Congregational Church in Appleton.  Joel attended school in Correll and Appleton, graduating from Appleton High School, Class of 1983.  Joel and Brenda Dittes were united in marriage on September 8, 1984, at Zion Lutheran Church in Appleton. They were happily married for 38 years.

Joel's love for farming began at an early age…at 14 he began driving the combine.  He also started at an early age helping his dad move grain bins.  He often talked about when he was probably 6 years old and would push bolts.  At 13 Joel became a member of the crew and continued moving grain bins with his dad until 2012.  He always said he didn't gamble because he did that every day as a farmer!

Joel loved snowmobiling and only owned Ski Doos.  We've had several people tell us they remember that when he was little, he would ride the snowmobile across the field and race the school bus home.  Joel loved his snowmobile trips with friends and rode many miles of trails in MN, WI, and MI.  But after he was invited to go to Wyoming to ride in the mountains he was hooked.  He looked forward to going out west with the guys and riding in the powder.  He always had fun!  Even after he broke his back he couldn't wait to go back.

Joel had a gift to gab!  Wherever he went he found someone to talk to…it didn't matter what age you were.  He enjoyed taking his dad to morning coffee with the guys, going to auction sales or just running into people he knew or someone he just met and talk.  He loved talking to the older generation and asking them about life when they grew up and what they remembered.  He always said it's too bad more people don't do that because you can find out about a lot of history.

He also loved to tease people no matter what age just to see if they'd smile or laugh.  All of his nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews have learned that Uncle Joey likes to tease them.  Joel loved spending time with his family and friends.  He loved getting together with friends for supper and a couple of beers or more. He always looked forward to family gatherings when he would get to be with his cousins.

Humble and Kind is a good description of Joel.  If you needed help, he'd be there even if it was for something as simple as changing a light bulb.  What you saw when you would see him is who he was.   And as he said, "I had a good life!"

Joel passed away Sunday, December 11, 2022, in his home.  He attained 58 years and 3 days of age.  Joel is survived by his wife Brenda; parents, Loren and Bonnie Kavanagh; sister, Lori (Craig) Schellberg; his father-in-law, Don (Janette Hanson) Dittes; his mother-in-law, Harriet Dittes; his aunt and Godmother, Yvonne Hagstrom; his brothers-in-law Doug Dittes, Tim (Jodi) Dittes, his nephews: Grant (Ali Hesano) Schellberg, Dylan Dittes, Riley Dittes; his nieces Briana (Joe) Prokasky, Jourdan (Jesse Torgeson) Erickson; his great-nephews: Teagen Dittes, Mason and Jax Torgeson, Isaac Prokasky, and Donovan Dittes; his great-nieces Leigha & Hannah Prokasky; and several cousins, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his brother Jeff in 2021; his grandparents: Emerson and Ellen Kavanagh, Eugene and Christine Waarum; his great aunt and uncle, Lila and Henry Strand; his aunts and uncles: Lucille and Alvin Brabender, Dorothy and Milton Krogsrud, Vivian and Leroy Swenson, Ray Kavanagh, Richard Hagstrom, Evelyn and Philip Battaglia, Lila Waarum, Norma Waarum; his nephews: Jon Erickson and Anthony Dittes; and by several cousins.  Blessed be the memory of Joel Emerson Kavanagh.