Joel Everett Tjelmeland, Sr.

Joel Everett Tjelmeland, Sr., 74, of Rochester, died on June 3, 2015 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after bravely fighting long-term congestive heart failure. He was the longest surviving L-VAD patient at NWMH. Joel was born May 9, 1941 in Story County, IA, the son of Ward Ingvold and Gladys Osmundson Tjelmeland. He was happily married to Pamela Graves Tjelmeland for almost 50 years. Joel earned his Master of Business Administration degree and was employed as a Professor of Automotive Technology and Business at Lincoln Land Community College from 1971 to 1998. He was also the owner of Tjelmeland Laketown Automotive from 1979 to present. He loved golf, collecting and restoring cars, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings. He is survived by his wife, Pamela Tjelmeland of Rochester; son, Joel (wife, Michelle) Tjelmeland, Jr. of Rochester; daughter, Sarah (husband, Joe) Petty of Rochester; five grandchildren, Ellie and Lucy Tjelmeland, and John, Katherine, and Grace Petty, all of Rochester; and siblings, Delores (husband, Ron) Campbell, Lola Mae Anderson, and Gordon (wife, Sue) Tjelmeland. Visitation: Family will receive friends from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Private family ceremony and burial will be held at Rochester Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation, Attn: Donations, 130 S. John St., Rochester, IL 62563.