Joel Delbert Loose, 64

Joel Delbert Loose, age 64, of New Prague passed away at home on Thursday, February 1, 2024. Joel was preceded in death by his father, David Leonard Loose and sister Paula Jean Loose. He is survived by his wife Christine (Anderson) of New Prague, sons, David Loose of Minneapolis, MN and Braeden Loose of Hopkins, MN, daughter AnnaMarie Loose of Seattle, WA, mother Rosemarie Loose of Pipestone, MN, siblings Brian (Marine) Loose of Kaufman, TX,  Erin Hansen (Chuck) of Scottsdale, AZ, Neil Loose of Kaufman, TX and Angela Stephenson (Steve) of Wheaton, IL ; many nieces and nephews.

Born September 21, 1959, in Pipestone, Minnesota, Joel grew up showing and riding horses on the Loose family farm and enjoyed being part of a large family. He participated in sports and particularly enjoyed and exelled at wrestling. He was a graduate of Pipestone High School in 1978. He attended and graduated from Minnesota State University-Mankato in 1983 where he became an All American wrestler. After college, Joel worked in sales where he met his wife Christine at a tradeshow in Sioux Falls, SD, and they bonded over their shared love of faith, family, windsurfing, and the outdoors. They married on September 22, 1990, and soon moved to New Prague, MN before opening his own business, Flex-Pac, Inc. in 2000 where he sold plastic packaging materials.

Joel volunteered at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and was active in the New Prague community with theater, Boy Scouts and PFLAG as well as most activities his children joined. Joel had many hobbies over the years including water skiing, motorcycling, and snowmobiling at locations around the country. Joel especially loved the upper peninsula of Michigan as a place to relax and enjoy the splendor of the outdoors. He was a beloved husband, father, uncle, cousin, neighbor and friend who will be dearly missed by many. Joel’s family extends sincere gratitude and love to the community of friends and family who supported and cared for Joel over the past two and a half years as he struggled through a series of medical issues and ultimately a diagnosis of ALS. A special thank you to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church family for all of their support. Joel will be remembered for his welcoming, generous, and adventurous spirit, warm smile, and hearty laugh.

A visitation will be held at Bruzek Funeral Home in New Prague, MN on February 7, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in New Prague, February 8, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. with funeral following at 10:30 a.m. A lunch will be provided immediately following the funeral at the Park Ballroom.