December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Rest In Peace my friend...
Joel Arbic, 48, of Tempe, Arizona passed away December 2 in Tempe. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan April 11, 1969 to Colleen and Bernie Arbic.
Joel is survived by his loving wife and sons, his brothers Brian (Jennifer) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Dan (Kim), and nieces Courtney and Megan Arbic and his parents, of Sault Ste. Marie.
He graduated from Sault Area High School in 1987 where he played basketball and baseball. After high school, Joel graduated with an engineering degree from Michigan State University. He worked for several years in the automotive industry before moving into the computer field, where he worked as a computer analyst for most of his career with Humana Health Insurance, in Phoenix, Arizona.
He loved the mountains of the western United States, where he enjoyed skiing, hiking, back-packing, canyoneering, mountain biking, and rock-climbing. His brothers and others cherish the memory of many outdoor trips with Joel. He had a spirit of adventure, which included a love of traveling. Shortly after their marriage in 2006, Joel and his wife achieved a shared dream of spending 18 months back-packing around the world, before moving back to Tempe and starting their family.
Memorial services will be held in Tempe, Arizona Saturday, December 9 at Tempe Mortuary at 12:30 PM.
A Memorial Service will also be held in Sault Ste. Marie at the Central Methodist Church on Saturday, December 16th, 2017, with visitation at 9am, and service at 11am.
Donations in his memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Joel is survived by his loving wife and sons, his brothers Brian (Jennifer) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Dan (Kim), and nieces Courtney and Megan Arbic and his parents, of Sault Ste. Marie.
He graduated from Sault Area High School in 1987 where he played basketball and baseball. After high school, Joel graduated with an engineering degree from Michigan State University. He worked for several years in the automotive industry before moving into the computer field, where he worked as a computer analyst for most of his career with Humana Health Insurance, in Phoenix, Arizona.
He loved the mountains of the western United States, where he enjoyed skiing, hiking, back-packing, canyoneering, mountain biking, and rock-climbing. His brothers and others cherish the memory of many outdoor trips with Joel. He had a spirit of adventure, which included a love of traveling. Shortly after their marriage in 2006, Joel and his wife achieved a shared dream of spending 18 months back-packing around the world, before moving back to Tempe and starting their family.
Memorial services will be held in Tempe, Arizona Saturday, December 9 at Tempe Mortuary at 12:30 PM.
A Memorial Service will also be held in Sault Ste. Marie at the Central Methodist Church on Saturday, December 16th, 2017, with visitation at 9am, and service at 11am.
Donations in his memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Tributes
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December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I just want to express my sorrow, sense of loss and condolences. His Sault High classmates and friends will miss Joel. There have been some really nice stories and great photos on our class fb page. I know I don't need to tell you, but as long as I've know Joel, he has always been a kind, caring kid, that turned into kind, caring man. His smile was contagious and his sense of humor wonderful. It has been a blessing to know him, laugh with him, talk with him...He just had a way to let others know that he cared. Know that I will continue to think of Joel and those that love him.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Joel was an amazing soul, who was loved by so many. I have such fond memories from our time in junior high and high school. Thanks for all the smiles and laughs Joel. I am honored to know Joel. Prayers for comfort to his family and friends. Rest peacefully my friend.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Thoughts and prayers go out to all that loved him! He was an amazing man that will be greatly missed by so many. RIP my friend..
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
You will bw forever missed my friend, the memories are always with me,. Your smile was infectious, Prays always
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I am so glad I got to see you this summer. The stories you guys were all telling had my face and stomach hurting from laughing so hard. You will be forever missed by so many!
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Shantala, I am truly sorry for your loss. You are on my mind and in my heart.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Hearts are breaking around the World. Joel touched the hearts of everyone he encountered. We truly enjoyed our time with him this summer. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Joel was a GREAT person to work with, very smart guy and had a strong work ethic. I will miss you!
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I will fondly remember all of the heart-to-hearts talks we had in high school, your friendship was a treasure. I am so glad I got to see you again at the reunion. Joel's amazing spirit will be missed. Prayers to his family and friends.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I am heartbroken for all of you. I remember babysitting for Joel and Brian when they were still in their cribs before Bernie and Colleen went out to Wyoming. I am keeping you in my prayers for comfort, strength, and healing. Love and hugs, Cris
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Such an extraordinary person Joel was. This is truly a great loss to our close team and community as a whole. Joel will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched. Let us remember Joel with a smile on our face, rest in peace Joel.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
My deepest sympathies to the entire Arbic family. Rest in Peace Joel.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I am so very grateful for the time I spent with Joel over the last 8 years at work. He was an incredibly smart and talented mentor to me. He taught me to think differently about solving problems in ways I could never see. He was such a kind and caring person. I valued his friendship greatly and he will be forever missed and always in my thoughts.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
My deepest sympathies to the entire Arbic family. I have many great memories of Joel from high school and Central United Methodist Church. Such a kind, smart, witty and charismatic guy. Rest in Peace Joel
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I spent 5 years working with Joel, incredible guy, very intelligent, and extraordinary person, enjoyed all of our conversations. My deepest sympathies to the entire Arbic family. May you rest in peace Joel, you will be missed.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I had the pleasure of working beside Joel for 9 years. So intelligent and a critical thinker. He taught me many ways of viewing everything at work and life. He will be incredibly missed and my heart goes out to the entire Arbic family and friends! Go in peace and love my friend!
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I have known Joel for the better part of 13 years. Shantala and I have been best friends for years and years, and Joel was like a brother to me. I will never forget the countless conversations, barbecues, sleepovers, swimming with the boys and everything else in between we all did together. He was an important part of my life, my son’s life and was so extremely smart, compassionate and all around wonderful person. I looked up to him like the brother he was to me and often confided in him. I will miss you terribly “Zoel” - the world will not be the same without you in it.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I have fond memories of adventrues with Joel. From studing for our engineering classes at MSU to snowboarding in Tahoe and Europe. Here is a fun story that I will relate. Joel and I were in Zell am See Switzerland having an epic powder day on the glacier. The tram dropped us off at the summit and then we would ski down. It was late in the day and we figured that we could get one more run in. As we were going down, someone from the lift was hollering at us. We did not understand, so we kept going, we finally got to the point where we could see the bottom of the lift. We noticed that there was no one there. Moments later, the lift just stopped and we realized what the guy was yelling about, he was the lift operator! We were about half way down a very steep black diamond run in powder to our waist. We had no alternative to hike back up the mountain. It was brutal and each step only gained us a few inches of upward progress. After an hour it was starting to get dark and we had a long way to go. I started to imagine missing the last tram down, being charged for another day of equipment or building a snow cave to spend the night at the top of the mountain. We finally reached the summit as darkness surrounded us and to our relief we were able to return the gear and even had time for a hefeweizen or two, which were the tastiest beers we ever had!
I will miss Joel sincerely!
I will miss Joel sincerely!
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
I met Joel in Africa in 2007. I only spent 3 weeks with him but can honestly say he was one of the nicest guys I have ever met. Since hearing this sad news I haven’t been able to think about anything else. My thoughts are with all the family and I am so sorry for your great loss.
Rest in peace big guy.
Rest in peace big guy.
December 7, 2017
December 7, 2017
Joel was our FAVORITE newspaper delivery kid in SSM! He would even stop his deliveries on Young St. to play with us Verrett girls! You are remembered and will always be missed!
Leave a Tribute
Recent Tributes
April 11, 2023
April 11, 2023
Happy birthday Joel. We all still miss you terribly.
Your older brother Brian
Your older brother Brian
April 11, 2022
April 11, 2022
My first post and long overdue. Maybe because this post acknowledges your loss. Thank you for all the trips and adventures you planned. So thankful I had the privledge to call you friend. You are remembered and missed. I know you are smiling down on your family as they continue their journey. May you rest in peace.
April 11, 2022
April 11, 2022
As I said a year ago, Joel's birthday is a tough day for all of us. That continues to be true and will always be true. We thank everyone for their support and love over the years.
Brian Arbic
(Joel's older brother)
Brian Arbic
(Joel's older brother)
Gallery
Thanksgiving 2011
Thanksgiving 2011
June 2007, Joel and Chuck with Evan
JoelBrianHighSierraTrailhead1998Enh
ShantalaJoelCanadianRockies#3_2003
ShantalaJoelCanadianRockies#2_2003
ShantalaJoelCanadianRockies#1_2003
MomJoelDadBrianGrandCanyon_1997
JoelZion#2_1997
Recent stories
family reunion
December 7, 2017
by Cris Roll
I took this photo of the family at our 1990 reunion. Brian is missing. Left to right, Dan, Joel, Colleen and Bernie.