Joel Gregory Widmer, 18 Jul 1988 - 07 Feb 2014

WIDMER, NIEBUHR, PETERSON, JEPSEN, WIENER, DAUGHERTY, ROBINSON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 2/18/2014 at 16:26:29

Joel Widmer, 25

Celebration of life service for Joel G. Widmer, 25, Vista, Calif., formerly of Williamsburg, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at the West Union Mennonite Church, rural Parnell. He died unexpectedly at his home Feb. 7, 2014.

Visitation will be from 2:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Powell Funeral Home, Williamsburg, with family present from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to West Union Mennonite Church for the Crooked Creek Christian Camp cabin fund or the Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition (JCSPC).

Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Joel Gregory Widmer was born July 18, 1988, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Kenton John and Pamela Sue (Niebuhr) Widmer. His family moved to Knoxville, Ill., where he developed a passion for sports at a young age. He later moved to Williamsburg with his family.

He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 2007, where he was named to the class 3A second team all state baseball team as a pitcher. He later attended Hesston College and Kirkwood Community College. He moved to California in 2012. He had been working as a graphic designer and printer.

He was a gentle, likable man with a warm smile and a sense of humor. He had a big heart and enjoyed spending time and grilling out with his friends, always ready for a good time. He truly loved all of his family and treasured the opportunities he had to spend time with his extended Widmer and Niebuhr families.

He loved kids and often said his dream was having his own some day. He also loved animals, especially his dog Murphy and childhood dog Lady. He loved the beaches and sunny California weather where he enjoyed his new sport of surfing.

He was a member of West Union Mennonite Church, Parnell. He was baptized by confession of faith at the age of 14. He had struggled with depression and the symptoms of adult ADD for many years, to which he finally succumbed. He was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Widmer is survived by his loving parents and best buddy and brother, Joshua Widmer, Williamsburg; his special friend Mallory Peterson; grandparents, Eugene and Helen Niebuhr; uncles and aunts, Lamarr (Margaret) Widmer, Dan (Sue) Widmer, Dave (Roni) Widmer, Barb (Dan) Jepsen, Larry (Pam) Niebuhr, Jeff (Sharon) Niebuhr; cousins, Matt and Eric Jepsen, Andrea Wiener, Allison and Beth Niebuhr, Beth Daugherty and Ryan Robinson and Mitch, Jackie, Blaine and Mallory Widmer.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clayton and Mary Lois Widmer.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 13 Feb 2014
The Gazette, 12 Feb 2014