Joel René Fridgen, 69, Greencastle, Pennsylvania, died Sunday, September 15, 2024 at Williamsport Nursing Home, Williamsport, Maryland.
He was born January 20, 1955 in Parkers Prairie, Minnesota to Reinold and Marie (Schornack) Fridgen. He graduated from Parkers Prairie High School in 1973, after representing the American Legion at Boys State and Boys Nation. He earned a B.A. in History and Social Science in 1977 from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota. He taught high school in South Dakota and then Sherburn, Minnesota.
Joel met Patricia Nelson in September 1978 in Sherburn, proposed on February 13, 1979 (a day early because he had to coach a wrestling meet), and they were married July 28, 1979 in Canby, Minnesota.
At the end of 1982 Joel was recruited to work in management at Carlson Craft in Mankato, Minnesota, the anchor company for Taylor Corporation. Joel rose through the ranks at Taylor, serving in many positions at various plants. In 1996 the corporation acquired its biggest competitor, Regency Thermographers in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Joel served as president of Regency (now Navitor) through 2009. He then became executive director of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce. He loved helping businesses grow. The first Greencastle Craft Beer and Wine Festival debuted during his tenure.
Joel served his communities in many capacities. He was on town council in Sherburn; served on the Greencastle-Antrim School Board from 2009-2013, including a stint as president; was active in civic organizations such as Rotary and Exchange; and served on many local, state, and national business committees. He was also invested in his children’s lives, encouraging them to do their best in sports, music and academics. While a teacher, and as a parent, he enjoyed coaching football, wrestling, track and baseball. He started many family traditions such as Birthday Breakfast, Payday Supper, making chili and caramel rolls, and following the absurdly large recipe for monster cookies.
Joel was active in church his whole life and was a founding member of Word of Life Lutheran Church in Mankato. He served all his congregations in many leadership roles. In 2011 Joel was able to pursue a passion dear to his heart, to become a pastor. He enrolled in the Specific Ministry Pastor distance education program at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. For several years he spent Tuesday evenings engaging with peers in live online discussions, and the rest of the week studying. He went to the Missouri campus for intense training in the summers. He interned at Concordia Lutheran Church in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was ordained January 12, 2014.
Joel’s dream ended one class short of program completion on April 24, 2015, when he suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. He was granted Emeritus status on November 8, 2017.
He is survived by his wife Pat; children Mathias (Jessica), Thaddeus (Lisa), Nathanael (Jennifer), Noel (Alec Cordell), and Gabriel (Madison); his grandchildren Jayden, Wyatt, Natalie, Graham, Lucas, Adeline, Brooks, Devi, Moses, Judah, and Rome; his siblings James (JoAnn), Carol Brand, William (Dorothy), Mary Straus, Wayne (Doris), all of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother Craig, and brothers-in-law William Brand and Eugene Straus.
Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. The family will receive visitors Friday, September 20, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home, 521 S. Washington St., Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The funeral service will be held Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. at Concordia Lutheran Church, 17906 Garden Lane, Hagerstown, Maryland, with Pastor Mark Moretz officiating. Visitors will be received beginning at 10 A.M.
Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Concordia Lutheran Church at the above address.
