Joel Benjamin Grace Jr.

A celebration of his life will be held at his home on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in his name to any veteran’s organization.

Joel was born on February 4, 1959 in Norfolk, VA to Joel B. Grace, Sr. and Maudie A. Horton Grace, both deceased. He graduated from Tuscaloosa High School, in Tuscaloosa, AL, in 1977 and went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry Riddle University. Joel married Kelly J. Hammill on December 27, 1996 in Tucson, AZ and they had a formal ceremony for their family in Moline, IL on July 26, 1997. Joel spent almost 21 years in the United States Air Force as an Airborne Maintenance Technician, 7 of those years were spent with NATO in Germany. He received numerous medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, the NATO medal, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal, to name a few. After he retired from the Air Force he went to work as a Defense Contractor for ComGlobal Systems working out of Hanscom Air Force Base in Concord, MA. In 2017, he medically retired as a contractor; the last company he worked for was Abacus Technologies.

Joel enjoyed reading sci-fi books, tinkering with his RC drone, going to movies, and most of all, playing with his dog, Kemp.

Those left to cherish Joel’s memory are his wife, Kelly, and his family and friends in Virginia, Alabama, Massachusetts, Georgia and Iowa.

Special thanks to all the Unity Point Hospice folks and Dr. Anita Ahuja for their exceptional care and compassion.