joel patrick boyd

​Joel Patrick Boyd, 65, of Edinburgh, passed away February 12, 2024.  He was born on the banks of the beautiful Mississippi River on September 7, 1958, in Clinton, Iowa, to the late Preston and Lorraine Daulton Boyd.  He married the love of his life--Ila Jolynn Swan Boyd on July 1, 1976, in Clinton, Iowa, and she lives on to tell their stories.  Joel served in the U.S. Army for 11 years and was later employed at Conway Central Express as a Freight Operation Supervisor followed by a time in Quality Control (and napping) at Rightway Fasteners.  He carried a devoted, passionate, and fanatical love for his Chicago Bears and Cubbies; above all he loved Ila and his family.  He instilled this fanaticism for his sports teams but, even more so, he instilled this love of family in his children. With his passing, Joel leaves a void in the lives of family and friends, but some comfort will be found in the tradition of love which he established. Perhaps the Bears and Cubs will provide some joy for them by winning the Super Bowl or World Series, if not, his family will still be together in their misery and know he is watching with them in spirit. In addition to Ila, (whom he loved since he was 15) surviving family includes his son, Patrick (Julia) Boyd, of Seymour; daughters, Maria (John West) Boyd, of Savanna, IL, and Christina (Jason) Abney, of Columbus; sisters, Patricia (Gary) Albers, of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Kathy (Jim) Skorupa, of Lyons Falls, NY; grandchildren, MeriKita, J.P., Judah, Kieren, Ja’Bryceson, Titus, Addison, Miriam, and Oliver, and great granddaughter, Rosemary Jane.  He was also preceded in death by his infant granddaughter Ruth Mae; and his brother, Michael Boyd.  Private arrangements have been entrusted to Community Funeral Care, Edinburgh and his ashes will make their way to his favorite place. A celebration of life will take place at Emmanual Church—Seymour Campus located at 1849 1st Ave. in Seymour, IN on Saturday, February 17th at 10:30am. A service will later take place in Savanna, IL when the weather is nice and Joel (a true river rat) can enjoy a day with family and friends followed by his final swim at sunset on the Mississippi River.

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