I didn’t meet Joe, he passed away in the middle of our first week in law school. He was in my section (60 people) so we would have almost certainly become friends.
When I heard of Joe’s passing I couldn’t help but think about the bright future he had. How he, like the rest of us, was excited about his future career & the experiences we would share in law school.
In a way, my steps forward will be shared with him. As I study & take tests, so will he. As I interview for a job, Joe will be marketing himself in equal measure.
My classmates are emailing back & forth today trying to raise some money for a scholarship fund in Joe’s honor. This gesture is rich to me, we who are living on a reduced budget are giving such a rare resource. But maybe the better tribute is to treat one another honorably, knowing that life is fragile & is not defined by the accumulation of prestige & comfort.
I lift a prayer today for the family of Joe & for we who will continue to walk the path he intended to travel.
Joseph Richard ??Joe? Maland, 22, passed from this earth to live his eternal life with the Lord on August 17, 2005. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, August 21st at Our Saviour??s Lutheran Church, Tyler, Rev. Mark Braaten, Dr. Jeff Wilson and Rev. Gustavo Guerrero presiding.
Born April 2, 1983 in Minneapolis, NM, Joe lived most of his life in Tyler. He was a graduate of Robert E Lee High School, Class of 2001, captain of the Robert E. Lee Swim Team, a member of the National Honor Society and a member of the UT sailing team. Joe graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin this past May. He was attending South Texas College of Law at the time of his death.
Joe enjoyed sailing, rock climbing and traveling. His gregarious, happy disposition drew others to him immediately. He loved his family and numerous friends and was thoughtful of others. God gave him a big and loving heart. His zest for life will be missed by many.
He is survived by his brother, Dan Maland, Austin; mother and stepfather, Mary Ann and Bill Girard, Tyler; father and stepmother, David and Jeanelle Maland, Tyler stepsister and stepbrother, Megan and Caleb Turner, Tyler; grandfather and grandmother, Bill and Mary Tonnies, Cincinnati, OH; and special friend, Allison Elliott, San Marcos. Joe was preceded in death by grandfather and grandmother, Richard and Ilo Maland, Lake City, MN in 2004.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, August 20th at Lloyd James Funeral Home in Tyler. Pallbearers are Zach Matson, Eric Mosely, Aaron Sword, Ryan Noel, Kyle Gray, Cliff Corbell, Justin Hunt, and Knema Rezaei. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the REL Swim Team.
Joe??s family wished to thank Dr. Phillip Chacko, Regional Minister for the Disciples of Christ Church, for his special care and kindness. Memorials may be made to the Joe Maland Swim Scholarship, 5903 Plantation Dr., Tyler, TX 75703, which will benefit members of the REL Swim Team who plan to go to college.