Joel Eger, 25, left this world on July 5, 2018. 

He was born December 4, 1992 in Akron and grew up in Mogadore, graduating from Mogadore High School in 2011. During high school, Joel worked for Acme Fresh Market and Dove's Mop Company (he loved to ride his moped to work). Later he was employed in central Ohio installing metal roofs. 

Joel entered the Ecotourism and Adventure Travel program at Hocking College and was able to travel and study in Canada, the Bahamas and Colorado. After college, living in Columbus he worked for REI, Natalie’s Coal Fired Pizza, ZipZone Outdoor Adventures as a zipline guide (his favorite job), and most recently was learning the trade of HVAC. 

He loved adventure and was able to participate in a variety of activities while growing up. He went to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina every summer with his family. Many happy memories were made playing on the beach and learning to surf. He and his brother felt free riding the waves. 

His free hours were spent skateboarding with friends at skate parks and around town.

Joel was a member of the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. With the Scouts, he went on a trip of a lifetime and took a train to Glacier National Park in Montana. 

Growing up, Joel was a member of NW Ave. Church of Christ in Tallmadge. For six years, he went to Round Lake church camp that included the West Virginia High Adventure camp at Seneca Rocks. He participated in rock climbing, caving, zip lining and waterfall jumping. This camp and its leaders had a strong positive influence on him and he ended up being one of the counselors. 

Throughout his teen years he became involved in Civil War re-enacting with the 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The re-enactors welcomed him into their family and took him under their wing and some would enjoy a cigar by the campfire in the evening. 

Another of Joel’s favorite things was hunting. He was proud when he brought home a deer and could provide his family with venison. 

One of Joel’s greatest passions was music. He definitely was a Dead Head! He loved music with substance which provided a soundtrack for the environments that he enjoyed the most. He loved to support his family's musical endeavors and dance along with joy and energy. 

He started a family with Sarah Smith on July 30th, 2014 when his son, Kai Ashton Eger was born. Joel had a natural instinct as a father and loved his son fiercely as a lion would protect his cub. Being a dad was what he loved most. 

The last few years included many struggles for Joel but he kept his passion and love for people and wanted to go to school to be a counselor and use his experience to help others.

Joel profoundly loved his family, friends, and pets (mostly Honeybelle, Yuri, and Chulo). We have so much appreciation for those that influenced Joel to be the man he became. Words fail us in expressing the deep sorrow of loss that we feel. We will love you forever, we will love you for always, as long as you’re living (and beyond) our baby you’ll be. 

Preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles F. “Bob” and Lucille Eger and dear cousin, Ashley Libbey; he will be forever loved and deeply missed by his son, Kai Ashton Eger; his parents, Brian and Dana Eger; sister, Leah Ashton (Eric) Letta; brother, Max Eger; Kai’s mother, Sarah Smith; grandparents, Robert and Joanne Warmuth; girlfriend, Kaitlyn Stickel; loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. 

Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. SATURDAY, July 14 at Northwest Ave. Church of Christ, 737 Northwest Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio 44278, with Scott Baker and Andy Bennett officiating. Friends and family will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. FRIDAY at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., Fairlawn, Ohio 44333, and 2 hours prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Joel Eger memorial fund for the benefit of his son, in c/o Huntington Bank. To share a memory, send a condolence, and to view the complete obituary, please visit the tribute wall at billowfuneralhomes.com.

 

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