Joel E. Williamsen, 64, of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away peacefully in his sleep February 11, 2026.
Joel was born April 29th, 1961 in West Point. He attended Alder Grove Elementary School and Junior High School in Craig. He attended Oakland-Craig High School and graduated in 1979. Joel attended college at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then went on to get his Masters’ and Doctorate degrees at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Joel got married to Jill Haugland in Sutherland in 1984. During that union they adopted their two children, David and Daphney. The marriage ended in 2009.
Joel worked as a Mechanical Engineer for the Army, was an Aerospace Engineer for NASA, a Director for the Center for Space System Survivability at the University of Denver, and a Task Leader for Special Projects Development, Live Fire Test and Evaluation for the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA). Throughout his career he jointly held patents and software copyrights which included Enhanced Hypervelocity Impact Shield and Space Station Pressure Wall Patch, to name a couple. He was also the recipient of numerous awards such as the NASA Silver Snoopy award in 2001.
Joel also enjoyed writing and published a book in 2009 called “Barrelhouse Boys”. He was working on his second novel, “Under the Rocket City” but sadly did not finish it.
In 2010, Joel married Linda Brothers (Wickstrom). They moved to Huntsville, Alabama, in 2011. Together they traveled to Italy, France, Germany, and Ireland, to mention a few. Joel loved travel, music, fishing, friends, and especially family. He also assembled a quartet called “The Luthermen” and they sang together for several years.
Joel is preceded in death by his mother Sally Williamsen. Survivors include his wife Linda (Huntsville, AL), son David (Jackson, MI), daughter Daphney (Ryan) Davis (Huntsville, AL), step-daughters Jamie (Luke) Renken, Huntsville, AL; Jodi (Quinn Bracelen) Brothers (Everett, WA); grandsons Laynden and Jonathan, granddaughter Rayven, step-granddaughter Rachel Brothers; and step-grandson Ethan Renken. Other survivors also include his father Roger Williamsen of Nebraska, sisters Jenna (Shanon) Morris of Nebraska, Judy (Layne) Gebers of Tennessee, and brother Jon Williamsen of Tennessee, half-sister April (Rick) Stonebreaker of Pennsylvania, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
A celebration will be 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 4, 2026, at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel in Fremont. Joel will be laid to rest at Alder Grove Church Cemetery in rural Burt County.
“Joel’s on Travel Again!”