Joel Brian Kuether

Joel Kuether, 68, of Sheboygan, passed away peacefully on November 8th, 2024, at Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County surrounded by his family after battling a lengthy illness.

Joel was born to Frederick and Elizabeth Kuether in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and graduated from Sheboygan South High School in 1974. After high school, he briefly attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh before deciding to hit the road with his band. He played in various rock bands including The Kuether Brothers, Loosends, Wall Street Roxx, Joel Kuether Trio, and having a solo career before retiring from playing in 2021. He loved to play his guitar and sing, write, and record his own music. He retired from the City of Sheboygan Department of Public Works in 2011 after 32 years of service.

 But to Joel, family was everything. On August 21st, 1982, he married the love of his life, Mary McDowell, on the beach of her parents’ home. And in March of 1992, the biggest event in Joel’s life happened – he became a father to his daughter, Anna. He loved her to the moon and back and was extremely proud of the woman she has become. He was overjoyed when she married Derek in 2016, and later became a grandfather to Harrison and Hayden and enjoyed spending time with them whenever he could. He was goofy to a fault with them, and they loved him endlessly.

Besides his family and music, Joel’s other love was nature. He loved to be outdoors and spent his free time fishing and camping with Mary. The woods were his happy place, especially Eagle River, Wisconsin, where he enjoyed the peace and quiet.

Joel always maintained a positive attitude, no matter the situation. His philosophy was, “You can go up or you can down, and I’m choosing to go up.” He would want everyone to do the same.

Joel is survived by his loving wife, Mary, his daughter Anna (Derek) Post, his sister Mary Cizauskas, and his grandchildren Harrison and Hayden Post. He is further survived by his sister-in-laws, Kathy (Jerry) Koellner, Karen (Peter) Markelz, and Marion Kuether, along with nieces and nephews Carrie (Jeremy) Cizuaskas, Jonathan (Katie) Cizauskas, Matthew Rammer, Kate Markelz, and Jacob (Jessica) Markelz. Joel’s friends were also of the utmost importance to him including Dave and Peggy Daehn, Jerry and Lisa Geibel, Mark Weinberger, Eugene Puchniarz, and many, many, others. He was preceded in death by his twin brother, John Kuether, his niece, Jillian Kuether, his brother-in-law, Robert Cizauskas, and his parents Frederick and Elizabeth Kuether.

Joel’s family would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Aurora Medical Center Sheboygan County for their skilled, compassionate, and comforting care of Joel and his family in the last few weeks. Special thanks to his nurses, Hayley, Nicole, Brenna, Allison, and Melisa, and his doctors Dr. Seetharaman and Dr. Pikos.

 A memorial service honoring Joel’s life will take place at Ballhorn Chapels, 1201 N. 8th St. in Sheboygan, on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., with Reverend Gregory Whelton officiating. Relatives and friends may visit with the family from 2:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. 

 In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to the Sheboygan County Humane Society in Joel’s name, as he was passionate about loving and adopting animals needing homes.