Joel Eric Fennema

Sioux Center, IA: Joel Eric Fennema, 50, of Sioux Center, Iowa, formerly Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away under the loving care of his family and Sioux Center Hospice on Monday, April 6, 2026. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 13, at 1:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. The service will be livestreamed on Joel’s obituary page at https://www.porterfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/joel-fennema. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. A visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service from Noon – 1:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home.

   Joel Eric Fennema, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend went home to be with the Lord on April 6, 2026. Joel was born in Gary, Indiana, on February 28, 1976, to Rev. C. Eric and Helen Fennema. He was a man of few words, quick wit and dry humor, loved by his family and friends.

   Joel loved his Iowa Hawkeyes, having a complete wardrobe of the black and gold and making sure others did not confuse it with “the school that shall not be named”. One of Joel’s great joys was golfing, and he enjoyed going on golfing trips with friends. He also loved playing card games with his nephews and nieces.

   Joel is survived by his mother, Helen Fennema; brother, Jonathan of Fayetteville North Carolina; sisters: Anne (Scott) Hendrikse of Sheboygan Wisconsin, Sarah (Jason) Van Voorst of Sioux Center Iowa, and Caryn (Micah) Schouten of Sioux Center Iowa; and nieces and nephews: Hannah, Mary (Diego Santiago), and Jacob Hendrikse, Mackinzie, Faith and Luke Van Voorst, Alexa, Logan and Katelyn Schouten. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. C. Eric Fennema.

   II Thessalonians 3:16 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.”