Joel Stephen Switzer

1971 - 2017

Joel Stephen Switzer 1971—2017
Joel Stephen Switzer, 45, of Fairbanks, AK, formerly of Freeport, IL, was killed in a construction related accident near Fairbanks, AK on August 3, 2017. Joel was born December 22, 1971, in Rockford, IL; the only son of Stephen A. and Dorleen A. Switzer (nee Showers). Obituary written by his mother and father. He attended Freeport Schools and graduated from Freeport High School, Class of 1990, where he never missed a day of school in four years. He played junior tackle and high school football, and he was on the dive team in Freeport. Ever adventurous, and like his parents, he loved to travel, starting at nine months old. After high school he worked for Cub Foods, then traveled to and lived in Whitefish, MT where he was a forest firefighter and construction worker, when work got short. In 1994, Joel and his dear friend, Ken Gieser traveled to Alaska and never returned to the lower 48, they loved Alaska. He was a construction worker, pipe liner, dog musher and trainer. A dear friend to many Alaskans, always willing and able to lend a hand on most any project. He lived in a tiny two room cabin in "the bush" outside Fairbanks, AK. He traveled to Poland and Spain, to be in his cousin's weddings. He was a confirmed bachelor, but had many girlfriends. One of which told us, "To know Joel was to love him." He lived on the edge, he got in airplanes like we get in our pickups. Snowboarding, skiing, canoeing, bike and mountain bike riding, snow machines, dog mushing, cliff diving, caribou hunting, dip netting for salmon in the Copper River, world traveling, remodeling his cabin and guiding his family and friends all over his beloved Alaska, were just a few of his pursuits. Joel never forgot his mother's birthday or mother's day, always sent a beautiful floral arrangement. He never forgot his family and friends and on his annual trip to Illinois he visited many of them. On our weekly phone calls, the last thing he said was "I love you mom and I love you pop." Joel is survived by his parents, Stephen and Dorleen Switzer of Orangeville, IL, and numerous friends all over the world.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at the Cramer-Leamon Funeral Home in Orangeville, IL. A Masonic Graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 10, 2017, at Oakland Cemetery, 2619 W Pearl City Road, Freeport, IL 61032. A luncheon will follow at the Crystal Room at the Masonic Temple in Freeport. Ron Asche will officiate the services. A memorial has been established for the Orangeville Volunteer Fire Department. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.leamonfh.com.