Joel Lonnie Pertl

Joel Lonnie Pertl, 78, of Deanville, Texas, went home to be with his Lord on October 7, 2022, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. A public visitation will be held in his honor on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM followed by a Funeral Service at 2:00 PM in the chapel at St. John's Lutheran Church, Deanville, Texas.
Joel was born November 19, 1943, at home on the family farm in Deanville to Stanley and Annie (Sebesta) Pertl. He was raised, accepted Christ as his personal savior, was baptized, and attended church at First Assembly of God in Caldwell until he could no longer drive. He loved God with his whole heart. Although the disease took control of his mind, it never took God from his heart. We would often find him with his hands raised and singing to Jesus; even though his communication skills had declined.
Joel and his wife Melinda (Bell) Pertl were married in Spring Branch, TX on June 6, 1966. He and Melinda were sweethearts at first kiss. They courted for a year, married, and seven years later started their family. They had three children, Brent Pertl, April (Pertl) Drew, and Tisha (Pertl) Wathen.
After graduating from Caldwell High School in 1962, Joel's first job was at Alenco in Bryan, TX. Next, he joined the Army Reserves in November 1964 and served his basic training at Fort Polk, LA. He was honorably discharged after serving his 6-year term in June of 1970.
Joel retired from Alcoa with plans that he and Melinda would travel the United States with a camper. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease, changed these plans.
Joel was a lover of the land. He loved vegetable gardening, growing fruit trees, grafting Pecan trees, flowers, and had a green thumb. He enjoyed cutting fresh, beautiful, bouquets of pink roses for the love of his life, Melinda. He loved farming at the family farm, growing hay, raising cows, clearing mesquite bushes by hand, and was known for having the cleanest fence lines in the area. He loved fast cars, slow antique A and T models, and he also rebuilt/repaired them, but fishing was a huge passion; he made his own perch traps, ran trot lines and seined his own bait. He never wanted to brag about how big the fish were (some 70 pounds) and would not enter competitions because he didn't ever want to reveal his secret spots. He was always generous in sharing his catch with friends and neighbors. To reciprocate, the women whom he shared with, would bake many delicious desserts and deliver them to Melinda saying, "they were for Joel".
Joel was preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Annie (Sebesta) Pertl, his siblings; Stanley Pertl, Curtis and Naomi (Pertl) Rathjen, Clarence and Bobbie (Walker)Pertl, and Melvin Pertl.
He is survived by his wife Melinda Pertl, his twin sister Joyce Thatcher, his son Brent Pertl, his daughters April (Pertl) Drew and spouse Blake Drew & Tisha (Pertl) Wathen and spouse Kyle Wathen, his grandchildren Ansley Pertl, Jacob Wathen, Audrey Wathen, Alexa Drew, and Ava Drew.
Joel will be remembered as a very simple man that loved the simple things in life: faith, family, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 W 26th St, Bryan, TX 77803.
Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com