Joel Pruneda, Jr.

Joel Pruneda Jr. was born in Fort Benning, Georgia to his mother and father, Emma and Joel Pruneda. Joel was raised on the east side of Aurora, Illinois. He attended East Aurora High School, where he graduated in 1986 and actively participated in athletics like football, wrestling, baseball, and conditioning. Joel had studied to become an IV paramedic, but found a career calling in coaching football and working within the cable industry. He moved to the Southeastern parts of America in 2015, where he eventually settled in Shelby, North Carolina, with his wife and family.

Joel had a love for football that led him to the semi-professional football team, the Chicago Falcons. He dedicated nearly 20 years to the Chicago Falcons, regardless of distance. He started as a defensive lineman and was given jersey #91, which soon became his identity. He led the Chicago Falcons to victory several times over, but his involvement didn’t end as just a player. Joel soon evolved from a player to become the team’s statistician, waterboy, official chaingang member, athletic trainer, videographer, launderer and seamstress, gatekeeper, maintenance technician, scheduler, driver, babysitter and babywrangler, Mapquest printer, 11th man, team hypeman, defensive line coach, Administrator of the Year for four years in a row, and earned himself the titles of “Pops”, “Animal”, “Soul Collector”, and “Coach Joe”. His family referred to his football days as his “diva” days, but soon found themselves roped into becoming team members as well. With the addition of his wife and children, Joel added additional positions to the Chicago Falcons that included more members for the chaingang, defensive line, water dispersion team, launderer and seamstresses, athletic trainer, and photographer.

Practices could range anywhere within the week, with Friday and Saturday primarily being the big days to bleed red and black.

For Joel, if there was football to be had, he would have it. It didn't matter the weather, the extreme heat of the summer or the frigid air of the Chicago winters. It didn't matter if his health was a barrier. He WOULD have football. His own wedding to his soulmate, Lisa, was planned around football season. Joel created complex mathematical equations to find the perfect time between conception and birth that wouldn’t interfere with kickoffs or playoffs for college, arena, semi-professional or professional football. He was hit so hard playing football once that his eyeball popped out of his socket and had to be tended to by ER staff. His first question to his doctor was if he'd be discharged in time for the second half. Fresh out of abdominal surgery, Joel was suiting up to be the 11th man, to avoid forfeiting a game to the rival team. Joel had earned a title throughout his football career as the "soul collector" and football season was his "holy season to reap".

Football was more than just a game; it became family - a community. The Chicago Falcons played hard and partied harder. From pigroasts to all-night pool parties, to creating meme awards to "Falcon Idol", it was all fun and joy. Players who were once strangers became family. On many occasions, Joel opened his home to help those in need of support. He provided shelter and unconditional love to young struggling adults, their children, or even those who were friends with his own children. He did his best to make his home and his presence safe for all who may encounter him. As a blood transfusion patient, Joel also wanted to give back to the community that saved him. He organized endless community blood drives and often strongly encouraged members of the Chicago Falcons to donate a pint or two. After his son, DiMitri, passed from childhood cancer, he began to religiously fundraise and participate as a shavee with the St. Baldrick's Foundation, earning himself a title as a 'Knight at the Bald Table'. In addition to his coaching for the Chicago Falcons and his work, he volunteered his time with the East Aurora High School football team and with the East Aurora Tomcat Youth Football team. Joel was a member of the American Football Association and the East Aurora Football Old Timers Association.

Joel fought a hard battle with his health. He struggled with a rare blood disorder that was difficult to manage. His autoimmune hemolytic anemia led to a laundry list of associated health conditions, disorders, and symptoms. Joel was no stranger to a hospital bed, an IV, or extensive treatments. Much like his career in football, he was a fighter. While his loved ones may have been subjected to endless complaints about the temperature of his room, the grits that were served, or the volume of medicines he needed to take, he never once complained about the hand he was dealt. His long-time oncologist, Dr. Cambareri, who had seen Joel through the last ten years of his health, described Joel Pruneda Jr. as "saintly in the face of adversity". Joel kept with the Chicago Falcon tradition of "Beat 'Em Up!" by continuing to fight and calling in the reinforcements of his wife, Lisa, and his daughter, Phoebe, when the rival team had homefield advantage.

In addition to being "saintly", Joel was a spitfire. He loved a good laugh, a prank, a gag gift or a practical joke. Most of his wardrobe consisted of jokes, like sweatshirts that read "My doctor says I'm the illest". He often made jokes about having "no guts" and "no legs". He often, lovingly, terrorized many medical professionals with invented stories about how he obtained his amputations or scars. He once took his friend to court over the compounded interest of a borrowed 45 cents from a school lunch in 1986. He enacted elaborate pranks that have become family tradition and lore. Joy and absurdity were two of his virtues. Another virtue was love. Each and every action he made was rooted in love. Love for the game. Love for food. Love for culture and community. And his fierce protective love for his family.

In his final moments, Joel exuded love. His last words, "I love you", were to his wife and daughter. His mortal vessel had been ready for departure, but it took him four days to be ready to let go of the loved ones who stayed by his side in his final days. The impact of the man he was can be felt by anyone who knew him, but was strongly embraced by the care team at Catawba Valley Medical Center, who spent those last four days tending to his mortal vessel, tending to the loved ones who stayed with him, and weeping at his side. In his last moments, Joel was surrounded by love. He was attended to by the love of his life, Lisa; his devoted daughter, Phoebe; the man who Joel referred to as his son, Michael; his "second daughter", Meghan; a flood of nurses; and the spirits of those who have passed before Joel - all awaiting him for the party of the century in his honor. The sky mourned Joel's passing for four days, and the moment he transitioned over, the sun shone for the first time in days. And has continued to shine.

Joel Pruneda Jr. is preceded in death by his son, DiMitri Pruneda; his mother and father, Emma and Joel Pruneda; his mother-in-law, Phoebe Ann Schwartz; his "Auntie and Grandma"; and many beloved Chicago Falcons friends who are waiting to tackle him upon arrival.

Joel Pruneda Jr. is survived by his soulmate and wife of 35 years, Alicia "Lisa" Pruneda. He leaves behind his "babygirl", Phoebe Ireland Pruneda, who stayed faithfully by his side for every moment. He leaves her in the careful hands of Michael Wilson, the man he saw as his son and worthy of his blessing to marry his daughter. He leaves behind his army of animals that include Zuko, Beauregard, Tyrion-Rex, Ducky, Fiona, and his daughter's prized "blue falcon", Thrawnie. He leaves behind his best friend and mentor, Coach Tom Robinson, of the Denver Broncos and the Chicago Falcons. He leaves behind a legacy among the Chicago Falcons as “Coach Joe" and "Pops". He also leaves behind others of his found and biological family, who may mourn from near or far. These include: his "second daughter and Son", Meghan Wright and Nate St. Peter; Meghan's children, Declan, Emma, Kai, and Scottie; His Tío Pole and his Tías, Tía Paula, Tía Minnie, and Tía Licha. His biological son, Dakota "Cody" Pruneda, and his beautiful granddaughters, Ellie and LuLu Pruneda; His siblings, Emmy, Mark, and Belinda; and a growing host of nieces, nephews, and other dear relatives.

Joel experienced the most peaceful and beautiful death, one that was befitting of such a beautiful and peaceful life. The world will always be a little duller without the sunlight Joel provided.

In lieu of flowers, the Pruneda family requests donations be made via Zelle to Phoebe Pruneda (865-299-1140) to help alleviate unexpected end-of-life costs. The family additionally encourages anyone who is able to, to donate a pint of blood to your local blood bank.

Arrangements for Joel are in the care of Troutman Funeral Home.