Joel Thomas Allard Sr.

Joel Thomas Allard Sr., went to his forever home with Jesus, Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, while surrounded by his family, after a long, hard fight with heart disease.

Joel was born to Donald and Iris (Studley) Allard Sr., June 10, 1966, in Cudahy. His parents were raised in the Cornell/Holcombe area, and they returned to Cornell, when Joel was quite young.

He attended Cornell Schools, where he enjoyed socializing with friends, participating in football, wrestling, baseball and track.

Joel loved the outdoors, with many fond memories of his youth, riding bike around town and spending his days fishing, all summer long.

He wore many hats during his working years. Joel spent many seasons, logging in the woods, with his dad and other family members, which continued into adulthood. He worked at the mine in Ladysmith, and later, he followed further in his father’s footsteps, joining the Operating Engineers Union.

While there, he was able to be his father’s crane assistant, at times, but the majority of his time with the union, he was a heavy equipment operator, working on road construction. When he later traveled those roads, the stories would start, “We did this stretch of road and...” as he reminisced about things that occurred, while he worked on that part of the highway.

Eventually, he gave up life on the road, to focus on raising his children and was employed at Wisconsin Truss, in Cornell, for 15 years. Upon leaving Truss, he worked hard at home, being a caregiver for his dad, for several years. He later returned to Wisconsin Truss, until he retired early, for health reasons.

Joel was a family man! He married in 1986, which later ended in divorce, but not before he was blessed with four children, Joel Jr. (JT), Tiffany, Tucker and Hunter.

He married the love of his life, Judy, June 29, 2002, and welcomed her three children, Sarah, Karen and Jacob, with open arms. He and Judy were later blessed with another child, Leah.

Joel also welcomed other children into his life and home – some officially, through guardianship or foster care, and many others, who were friends of his children. He held all of his children, no matter how they came to him, near and dear to his heart. He always enjoyed getting together with family – the more the merrier.

Joel enjoyed life and loved teaching others skills. He was always the happiest being outside, but especially when he was in the woods or on the water. He loved hunting and fishing, going as often as he possibly could.

He coached his children and others, serving as a hunting mentor, wrestling coach, baseball coach and umpire. He enjoyed cars and was a handy mechanic. He showed his love, by performing maintenance, minor repairs and checking the oil, on nearly every vehicle that stopped in his driveway.

Joel especially enjoyed time with his family and the annual family trip to the Dells, where he could swim, enjoy the hot tub and make memories, with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife – Judy (Johnson Gjelhaug) Allard; his children – Sarah (Dustin) Kinas-Beck, Marshfield, Joel (Kayla) Allard Jr., Chippewa Falls, Tiffany Allard, Ladysmith, Karen Gjelhaug, River Falls, Tucker Allard, Cornell, Hunter Allard, Holcombe, Jacob (Allie Hines) Gjelhaug, Roberts, and Leah Allard, Menomonie; his bonus children – Kayla (Justin Hibbard) Allard, Chippewa Falls, Thomas Barrett, Rice Lake, “AJ,” Augusta, and Crystal Trudeau, Chippewa Falls; his grandchildren – Ayden (Libby Karl) Kinas-Beck, Connor Allard, Skylar Allard, Oaklee Allard, Finlee Allard, Branton Allard, Scarlett Haroldson, Elaine Haroldson, Athena Schermann, Kolban Nye, Zyler Allard, Avery Allard, Miles Gjelhaug, Nora Gjelhaug and Blake Hibbard; his siblings – Linda Queen, Susan Allard, Paul Allard, Julie O’Neil, Sandy Allard and Philip (Suzy) Allard; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson – Zane Allard; his brother – Donald Allard Jr.; and brothers-in-law – Robert Queen and Wayne George. Visitation at Borton-Leiser Funeral Home, in Cornell, is Friday, Aug. 21, from 4-7 p.m. Services are at One Hope Church in Sheldon, Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11 a.m., with visitation, from 10-11 a.m.

Interment is at the Cornell Cemetery, following the service.

The family invites everyone to a luncheon, to celebrate Joel’s life, at Faith Baptist Church, in Cornell, immediately thereafter.

Borton-Leiser Funeral Home is assisting the family.