Monday, December 11, 2017
To Joel's wife Shirley and his family, I send my deep condolences. While Joel did not appreciate some of my requests of him as his manager for four years, I deeply respected his intelligence, work ethic, and his service to his country. Knowing his duty as a tunnel rat in Viet Nam and seeing his injuries, a purple heart doesn't fully describe what he sacrificed for his country. While I went to college and on to service as a USN destroyer line officer, Joel answered the real call to duty and danger in the far off hell hole that was Viet Nam. At Masonite I respected his very analytical and intelligent approach as the key maintenance person for Line I. He contributed significantly to the reliability of that Line while I was there and was representative of the great talent and contribution made by many key maintenance personnel who I was privileged to work with. They kept Masonite going 24/7. A few of those have commented here. I am real sorry to hear what took him and send my deep sympathy to Shirley and his immediate family. Alzheimers took my mother and there is nothing harder to watch steal our loved ones away than this terrible disease. Rest in peace Joel. You were a very fine man.
