Joseph D. Sell, age 66, surrounded by his loved, ones was called to his heavenly home at the very moment they finished singing “I’ll Fly Away” at 1:11 pm (3 numbers in a row meant angels are present to Joe) on July 20, 2024 after a courageous eleven month battle with colon cancer. He was born in Neenah on March 2, 1958 to Nancy (Powell) and Gerald Sell.
Joe married Jean Schierl on November 4, 1978. They were blessed with nearly 46 years of marriage, two beautiful daughters, two sons-in-law whom he saw as his sons, and seven grandchildren who were his greatest treasure. They will miss his love, guidance, humor, and ability to know how to fix almost anything.
Joe was a 1976 graduate of Saint Mary’s Central High School. The day after graduating high school he entered the workforce with Giddings and Lewis in Fond du Lac. After building his first home with his own hands, he decided to start his own home construction business and built many homes with his wife by his side. He began working at Asten Johnson and finished his working career there where he retired after 35 years. While there he was active in the union where he had a gift of bringing both sides together. In between and in addition to his busy work schedule throughout the years he could also be found working at the former family business C.B. Supply. Joe had a strong work ethic which his daughters and grandchildren carry on today.
Joe was a life-long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Menasha. He lived his life by Gale Sayer’s mantra, I am Third… God is first, Family second and I am third. This faith was lived out by lending a helping hand to family and friends, whether helping build their homes or cabins, to small projects around the house, yard or anywhere in between. If he saw a service member or police officer, he would always thanks them and tell them how grateful he was for their service and sacrifice and if possible buy their coffee or meal. In honor of Joe please carry on this tradition for him.
Since childhood Joe was an avid Chicago Bears fan, but as the years went by he started to trade in his Bears apparel for St. Mary Zephyr and Roncalli Jets gear. He tried making it to as many sporting events and activities as he could to support his children and grandchildren. He was not only a well-known spectator at games but coached softball, basketball and cross country through the years. In addition to coaching, he helped start the middle school cross country program for Seton Middle School, now St. Mary’s Middle School. He was proud that it continues to be a very successful program of which his grandchildren can be a part of. This stemmed from his love of running of which he completed 10 marathons and many other 5k and fun runs. Joe could also be found sharing the love of up north with his family. One of his favorite places and pride and joy was the cabin he built. Really anywhere his family was made his heart smile and he had a particular fondness for all things Christmas from Christmas Eve Mass to hanging lights and decorating cookies. He really had a Wonderful Life!
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Jean; his children, Jacinda (Steve) Thiele and Annie (Jason) Lee; and his grandchildren, Dominic, Andrew, Evan, and Thomas Thiele, and Norah, Natalie, and Naomi Lee. He is further survived by his step-mother, Joan Sell; his siblings, Jerry (Alice) Sell, Kay (Greg) Knorr, John (Cindy) Sell, Laurie Kettner, Jeff (Linda) Sell, Kim (Kurt) Bowers, Scott (Dee) Ernst, Jim (Marge) Sell, Lynne (Kevin) Dorn, Chris (Jeanne) Sell, Bill (Olga) Sell; his in-laws, Dave (Jeanne) Schierl, Debbie (Mike) Spielbauer, Mary (Joe) Resch, Tony (Cherie) Schierl, Larry (special friend Lisa) Schierl; and numerous nieces and nephews that he cared for deeply.
Joe is preceded in death by his mother and father, Nancy and Gerald Sell; his mother and father-in-law, Margaret and Roger Schierl; his brothers, Randy and Terry Ernst; and grandbabies.
Visitation with prayer service will be held from 4-7pm on Wednesday, July 24th, 2024 at Wichmann-Laemmrich Funeral Home, 312 Milwaukee Street, Menasha, WI 54952. Visitation will continue from 9-11am followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00am on Thursday, July 25th at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 516 De Pere St, Menasha, WI 54952 due to restoration at St. Mary’s. Joe will be laid to rest immediately following the mass at St. Mary Cemetery in Menasha. Please come and share in the celebration of Joe’s life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials and donations can be made to St. Mary Catholic Schools in Neenah, Roncalli Catholic Schools in Manitowoc, St. Mary’s Menasha Legacy or Church Restoration Funds, and a special organization close to Joe’s heart, Robin’s Nest, an organization that supports local cancer patients and their families.
We would like to thank the many compassionate and skillful medical staff that cared for Joe over this past year.
Joe was truly blessed to have such support from our families and friends, your prayers and inspirational messages really uplifted his spirit. He wants you to know that his prayers were answered, because just like Tiny Tim, he wanted his illness to remind people of God’s Saving Grace. If you want another way to honor Joe look to God. Things that helped him in his faith, going to Mass, confession (he recently went after a 40 year lapse and said the heavy weights were lifted off), reciting the Rosary, reading the Bible, finding a favorite bible verse, his was Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepard”. Know that Joe is fully healed, he has been busy in Heaven already giving us so many signs that we are truly amazed, but not surprised. Thank you Fr. Michael Lightner, Fr. Jude Egbuna, and Fr. John Reuter for the impact you had on his faith.
This spring Joe did get himself another Harley with his rosary secured to the handlebar, his rides would bring him much peace.
Well done my good and faithful servant, you have won your final and most important race, welcome home!
Posted online on July 22, 2024
