Bernell Iris Joel

Bernell Joel, 83, of Wood Lake, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 1, 2017 at her residence in Wood Lake. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Wood Lake. Visitation will be from 4 – 8 PM on Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church with a prayer service at 7:45 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. The Sunset Funeral & Cremation Association is caring for the family.     Bernell Iris (Werner) Joel was born on August 18, 1933 to Harry and Meta (Viergutz) Werner in Vesta, Minnesota. She was baptized in Vesta and confirmed at Peace Lutheran Church, Echo, Minnesota and graduated from Echo High School. On February 14, 1953, Bernell was united in marriage to Maurice Joel at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo. They made their home on a farm west of Wood Lake. Bernell was diagnosed with a debilitating disease called Charot-Marie-Tooth disease. Bernell helped on the farm and also worked as a legal secretary for a few different attorneys over the years. She most recently worked as a secretary at the Wood Lake High School. She was a member of the Ladies Auxillary in Wood Lake and St. John’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed scrapbooking, crossword puzzles, traveling to her home in Arizona for the winters, camping, and visiting friends and family. On Thursday, June 1, 2017, Bernell passed away peacefully at her home in Wood Lake at the age of 83. She is survived by her husband Maurice of Wood Lake; children Charles (Nancy) Joel of Garvin and Michael (Vicki) Joel of Scottsbluff, NE; grandchildren Brian (Deana) Siekmann and Melanie Siekmann; great grandchildren Madelyn, Leo, Stanley and Traeh Siekmann; sister Darlene Milbradt; sisters-in-law Amy Werner and Carol Werner; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers Bobby and Virgil Werner and brother-in-law James "Jimmy" Milbradt. Blessed be her memory.