Joel J. Walker, 24, of Sturgis, died Saturday, April 13, 2024 as a result of a traffic accident.

Joel was born on August 26, 1999 in Greeley, CO.

When Joel was 5, he was adopted by Bonnie Walker.

Growing up in Piedmont, Joel attended Horace Mann Elementary, North Middle School and Central High School in Rapid City, graduating in 2018. Joel was active in Wrestling, LaCrosse, track, football and basketball, however, finding his niche during his senior year, joining the cheerleader squad.  It didn't take long to realize he could ride on the bus with the girls instead of with the boys on the teams.  Joel had a natural ability to visualize what was needed to build and assemble.  The instinct of an engineer.

Joel worked construction for his Uncle Memo.

He is survived by his mother, Bonnie Walker, Piedmont, his daughter Emberly Walker and her mother, Tori Thunder,  Rapid City, his brother Kaleb Walker, Piedmont and sister, Niki Walker, Jamesville, NY, his birth Mom, Clarice Sirio, (Sonny Gomez), his uncle, Anselmo "Memo" (Theresa) Jaramillo and their children; Manuelle, Xavier and Sophie and his Uncle Henry Sirio, his Grandmother, Silvia Gomez, brothers; Ryne Archuleta, Exiquio Gomez, his sisters; Tinesh (Dominic DeLacruz) Archuleta, and her children, Dominc and Alizae, Leticia Lopez and her daughter, Aubrielle, Lavisha (Jorge Vasquez) Sirio and Jazmin Sirio, his aunts; Emilia (David) Jaramillo, Elizabeth (Irma) Salazar, Andrea (Pat) Pierce, Lorencia (Wally) Herrara, JoAnna Barlow and her children Javier Barlow, Akaydion Barlow and August Barlow, and numerous cousins.

A visitation will be held at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home on Monday, April 22, 2024 from 5:00pm until 7:00pm.

Services will be held at 10:00am at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Tuesday, April 23 followed by interment at Pine Lawn Memorial Park.

Memorials have been established toThe Emmanuel Episcopal Church Acolyte Program or the Atayapi Program at Rural America Initiative.

Friends may sign his online guest register at www.osheimschmidt.com.