Obituary of Joseph Arnold Wollan

Joseph Arnold Wollan was born November 24th, 1943 in Minot North Dakota to Ruth and Arnold Wollan. He was the first born son and lived with his mother at the Bangen farm while Joe was a baby. His father Arnold didn’t get to meet him until he was 9 months old, when he returned home after fulfilling his military service in WWII. His two brothers came along in the next few years to complete the family.

He grew up in Minot, North Dakota and graduated from Minot High School in 1961; he earned a B.A. degree from Minot State College. He spent 3 years in military service and served with the Air Borne Division of the Army in the Panama Canal Zone. He married Susan Hoff in 1967, and they had two children, Jennifer and Joseph.

He is survived by his two children, Jennifer (Chris) Wayland, and Joseph (Jamie) Wollan; by his two brothers, Larry (Gael) Wollan of Battleground, WA and Glenn (Sandy) Wollan of Bismarck, ND; and nieces, Sarah, Monique, Jacinda and nephew Alexander, great nieces Lily and Bridget; and numerous cousins.

Joe worked for Public Service Company of Colorado beginning his career as a meter-reader, them moving into Consumer Relations and Energy Diversions departments. After early retirement he worked a few different jobs to keep busy, including as a “casual” for the U.S. Postal Service briefly. He then learned that Public Service (Excel Energy) was hiring for meterreaders, so he applied for a part-time position that soon became full time for a few more years, before retiring again.

He enjoyed many activities, and loved spending time in the Colorado mountains skiing, hunting, fishing, hiking, etc. He spent many hours rebuilding and customizing his Chevy pickup and loved riding his HD motorcycle. Among family and friends he was known for his generous nature and dry wit. He was independent, intelligent, kind, well read, curious about life and sought out information always ready to learn. He displayed his very loving and kind nature when caring for his partner Connie’s dog, “Demon” for many years after her passing. Demon kept him busy and out walking every day. He remarked shortly before he passed that August would be a year since he lost his Demon. That dog was well loved.

He passed away from a sudden, brief illness. He had a strong will to live, but his body finally was too ill to continue. He will be sorely missed by those who loved him, especially by his children, and his two younger brothers are so sad to see their big brother gone. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, “I had many good friends, and lots of good times.” He was a good friend and he made many good times just by being Joe. A celebration of his life for close family will be planned at a later date