Colonel Joseph A. Hoecherl, 51, went home to his Lord on May 2, 2018, with his family praying beside him.
Joe was born on January 8, 1967, in Lansing, Michigan. He graduated from Shawano High School in Wisconsin and enlisted in the Army Reserve at 17, beginning his life-long military career. He attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison from 1984-1986, where he met and married the love of his life, Kelly (Scheibly) Hoecherl in 1986. After they married, he switched to active duty. In 1990, he finished his degree at the University of Central Florida, re-entered the Army as an officer, attended flight school at Ft. Rucker, AL in 1993, and became an Army helicopter pilot, qualified in the UH-1, OH-58A/C, CH-47D/F, and finally, AH-64D.
During his 30+ year career, COL Hoecherl traveled extensively with his family, being stationed at Schweinfurt, Germany, Ft. Campbell, KY (twice), Ft. Rucker, AL, Camp Mobile, Korea, Ft. Lee, VA, Giebelstadt, Germany, Monterey, CA, Redstone Arsenal, AL (three times), Ft. Belvoir, VA, the Pentagon, Ft. Knox, KY, and Washington, DC. He also earned an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Master of Information Technology from the Naval Post-Graduate School, and a Master of National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School at the National Defense University.
In 2016, after completing the Apache transition course, he and Kelly returned to Redstone Arsenal, AL, where he took over as the Apache Program Manager, where he served until 2018. During this time, in April 2017, he was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, but continued to work full-time while fighting cancer until January 2018, when his cancer battle required much more of his time and energy.
A follower of Christ to the end, COL Hoecherl was a servant leader with a strong work ethic and a listening ear. He served his family, friends, all those he led, and those he worked with and for in his Army career with a generous and kind heart and a strong moral compass. He has made a lasting impact on the many lives he touched with his positive attitude, kindness, compassion and faith. Joe was a devoted and loving husband, father and grandfather, and he will be forever loved by those he left behind.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Kelly; his son Joey (Emily) of Owings, MD; his son Kevin (Taylor) of Huntsville, AL; his daughter Kristin Beckmeyer (Adam) of Vienna, WV; his three grandchildren: Claira, Job, and Harrison; his parents, Arnold and Mary Lou (Brown) Hoecherl of Spooner, WI; his three sisters, Crystal Hoecherl, Theresa (Chris) Menard, and Jennifer (Paul) Lake; and his brothers, Jeremy (Marina) Hoecherl, and David Hoecherl.
A Memorial Service to celebrate the life of COL Joseph Hoecherl will take place on May 9, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. at Bob Jones Auditorium on Redstone Arsenal. Anyone needing access to Redstone Arsenal to attend the Memorial Service, please email: Evelyn.f.matthews.civ@mail.mil. Burial service will be on May 10, 2018 at the Alabama National Cemetery at Montevallo at 11:00 am. Flowers and plants may be sent to Laughlin Funeral Home, Huntsville AL. (www.laughlinservice.com)
Memorials may be made to Compassion International or the Downtown Rescue Mission, Huntsville AL.
