Joel Knepper
October 31, 2022
- Share:
-
-
-
Service Details
Joel Knepper passed away unexpectedly at home on October 31, 2022, due to natural causes. He was born in Alexandria, VA on June 18, 1971, the son of Kathy and James “Gary” Knepper. When Joel was three years old, the family moved to Minnesota where he attended St. Thomas Academy and Richfield High School.
Joel worked as a data analyst for Optum, Inc. In 2005, he met Jennifer Lansman. They shared a wonderful life together full of love, laughter, and music. In 2019, they moved to Iowa to be closer to family.
Joel was a computer genius and was everybody’s fix-it computer guy. His greatest passion in life was music. Whether he was playing an instrument, attending a concert, or sharing his favorites songs with others, to know Joel was to know his love for music (and borderline obsession with Eminem)! In December 2021, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to see Phil Collins and Genesis in concert at TD Garden in Boston, MA.
Joel’s life goal was to bring joy to others through music or storytelling. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Joel is survived by the love of his life, Jennifer Lansman; stepson, Brent (Tara) Lansman; grandchildren, Jace, Brinley, and Maxwell; mother, Kathy (John) Lowery; his aunt, Ruth (Mike) Woitas; father-in-law, Dennis Twogood; sisters-in-law, Denise (Dennis) Songer and Suzanne (Jeff) Moore; brother-in-law, Derek (Jeorjette) Twogood; as well as his beloved German Shepherd, Apollo; 9 cousins, many nieces and nephews, other loving family and many special friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gary Knepper; mother-in-law, Carolyn Twogood; maternal grandparents, Marvin and Dorothea Brownlee; maternal step-grandfather, Robert Hadlick; paternal grandparents, Joseph and Kay Knepper; nephew, Elijah Moore; along with his German Shepherd and best friend, Zeus.
A celebration of Joel’s life will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Avenue in Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. with the service to begin at 12 p.m. He will be laid to rest at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery on Monday, November 7, 2022, at 10 a.m.
For guests unable to attend, a live stream of his service will be available on his obituary page on Hamilton’s website.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Jennifer Lansman, in loving memory of Joel.
Toni Malandro
11/06/2022
I will never forget Joel and his wild and silly stories and jokes. I will miss his late night calls just to talk and cut up. It always lifted my spirits. I will miss him.
Christophef Davis
11/06/2022
You are a kind and gentle soul Joel, you will be truely missed and cherished.
Your Brother from another Mother.
Chris.
Rusty woskoski
11/06/2022
Joel although I never met you, I. Sit here now with a very heavy heart that I passed on the opportunity too.
Deep down I just dont want to accept that your gone and I will miss reading your stories and our occasional talks.
Im sorry for everyones loss Joel was a good kind man, that could make people laugh.
Terri Burton
11/04/2022
I am so saddened by the sudden loss of Joel. Joel was one of my favorite people, even though we were "just co-workers", Joel had the ability to make you a friend as well. I will miss his chats and his calls, we never failed to stop talking shop and he'd share stories and jokes. He will be so greatly missed. May his memory be eternal.
Nicole McMillan
11/04/2022
My words are at a loss, but my heart goes out to the family and his love. He was such an energetic energy whenever he came into a room.
Lameca Lentz
11/03/2022
I met Joel through work at Optum. He was always kind and explained tech things in non tech terms. Although I didn't know him long, he will surely be missed. My condolences to his loved ones.