Birth date: Nov 9, 1951 Death date: Jun 11, 2017
H. Joel Laurila November 9, 1951 - June 11, 2017 H. Joel Laurila, age 65, passed away in Gainesville, Florida on Sunday, June 11, 2017. He was born November 9, 1951 in Racine, Wisconsin to Jean Elizabeth and Henry J. Laurila. J Read Obituary
Punch Line
Keith, Joel & Me,
Off to a King Mango Strut Parade,
Joel, “Grease Man” imitator come to town.
Rap, rap, rap a line of bulls--t,
We had it made, we got down.
Punch line delivered with satisfaction
A tilt of his head, a twinkle in his eyes,
He’d wait for the reaction,
A shock, a chuckle, or something else altogether,
Mission accomplished, he’d bashed the senses.
Just a slight smile on his face,
Like Iceman with a toy,
He’d just messed with us again,
not to disgrace,
but a need to put the Universe into place.
Joel, for all his intensity and bluster, had a sort of sweet innocence about him, a pureness that nothing, not even being a news hound, could corrupt. Everyone, including generations of cats at the Courtyard, knew this about him—he was a big ole’ softy. This was a good thing to remember when he smelled bullshit. He’d call anyone on it and he had a nose for ferreting it out. He would have made a good PI, cop or spy. He had the focus and the follow-though: whether he was just listening, playing a game, detailing a car, or watching a movie, he was in, 100%. He had the intelligence, keen recognition of stupid patterns humans kept repeating throughout history, sneaky talent of getting candid pictures, and was first among his lifetime friends to quit drinking and quit smoking, at least cigarettes, which made him a damned sight smarter than some of us. Maybe this is why he was able to remember events, stories, jokes, and histories in such detail. Joel loved hearing stories and telling stories and could impersonate or mimic others like a pro. Hobble de gaga, anyone? (from The Grease Man radio show). Since Joel majored in broadcasting, his passion for creative characters was no surprise. Joel, himself, was such a character that he was at once outrageous, sardonic, informative, hilarious, and endlessly entertaining. When I hear the phrase “Characters Welcome,” I will always think of Joel and company, a group of colorful friends who kept us wide-eyed and wet-eyed (from laughter) for many decades. Thank you, buddy, for being my family through thick and thin. Thank you especially for my last big bear hug. I will carry you in my heart, always. Pam
