Joel Ekholm

Joel James Ekholm, 69, of Cortland, NY, passed away on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at Carolinas Medical Center – University. The family will receive friends at Providence Baptist Church, 5315 Hwy 49 S, Harrisburg, NC on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The funeral service, officiated by Dr. John Cashwell, will be held in the church at 4:00 p.m. At other times the family will meet at the home of Mark and Jennifer Pyne. Mr. Ekholm was born on June 24, 1942 to the late James Victor Ekholm and the late Sara Katherine Ferguson Ekholm. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Marie Hartz Ekholm; Two daughters, Jennifer Lyn Pyne of Harrisburg and Julie E. Camp of Cortland, NY; two sisters, Kathy Sinclair and Martha Newhart of Apopka. FL; and five grandchildren, Emily and Libby Camp and Zachary, Madison and Garrett Pyne. Joel was a volunteer with the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation serving as loadmaster on the C-54 “Spirit of Freedom” at air shows all over the United States and Puerto Rico. Memorials may be made to Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation at www.spiritoffreedom.org. Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Ekholm family.