Obituaries : Joel Eldred

Urbana—Joel Eldred, 53, of Gallatin, TN, formerly of Urbana, died Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Sumner Regional Medical Center, Galltin, TN, of acute leukemia.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2015 at St. John Lutheran Church in Center Point with Rev. David Hansen officiating.  Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton and for an hour before services at the church on Saturday.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Urbana.  The casket will remain closed. 

Joel Edward Eldred was born June 5, 1962 in Cedar Rapids, the oldest son of Duane and Janice Ketelsen Eldred.  He attended school in Urbana, graduating from Urbana High School in 1980.  On November 3, 1984 he married Dana Gerdemann in Springville.  Joel worked as a salesman in the construction business.  He was active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, enjoyed bicycling, politics, Formula One racing and his four-legged pets. 

Joel is survived by his wife, Dana, Gallatin, TN;  his parents, Duane and Janice Eldred, Urbana; his sister, Lynette Eldred, Lisbon; his brother, Mark (Gillian) Eldred, Chicago; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dean and Mary Gerdemann, Springville; his sisters-in-law, Erin (Chad) Waskow, Coggon, and Tammy Morrison, Vinton; brother-in-law, Wade (Jamie) Gerdemann, Melbourne, KY and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and his brother, Paul Eldred. 

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for Joel and his family.  Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.