Joel Bernhard Sigdestad, MD

Joel Bernhard Sigdestad, MD of Littleton, Colorado died on December 6, 2024 at the age of 82. 

Joel was born in Fargo, North Dakota. He grew up in Moorhead, Minnesota and attended Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1964. Joel received his Doctor of Medicine in 1968 from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Joel proudly enlisted in the US Army in 1967. After completing his medical internship, he served in Schweinfurt, Germany. Joel completed his surgical residency at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in 1975. He went on to serve at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He also served in the Army Reserves and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Joel treasured his 28 years as a general surgeon with Kaiser Permanente at Saint Joseph Hospital. Although he loved being a physician and surgeon, he also thrived in his administrative roles at both Saint Joseph Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital.

In 1997, Joel fulfilled his childhood dream of going to Africa where he served in his first medical mission at Selian Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania. His wife Barbara and daughter Karin accompanied him on that inaugural trip with Joel working alongside his daughter Karin in the operating room and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Joel returned to Tanzania 21 more times on medical mission trips always taking time to go on safari and spend time in the local communities. He cherished bringing his children and other family members on these trips including his final trip in February 2019 where he took his entire family including his wife, children and grandchildren. Joel touched many lives around the world.

Joel met the love of his life Barbara C. Potter in 1957 at Oak Grove. Barb asked Joel to be her date for the Sadie Hawkins Social and the rest is history. They got engaged over a hamburger and coke float, one of their favorite things to do. They were married April 5, 1963, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minnesota.

Despite Joel’s busy career, he always found time for his three children: Kristen, Joe, and Karin. He enjoyed outdoor activities with all of them including hiking, fishing, skiing, teaching them to ride their bicycles and teaching them how to drive. He especially enjoyed taking them out for ice cream.

Joel was a family man and proud grandpa. He loved cheering his grandchildren on at sporting events and attending grandparent’s day at school. Joel and Barb loved getting away to their cabin with family and friends. Joel enjoyed sharing his love of nature and John Denver songs with everyone.

Joel was a lifelong Lutheran and active member of St. Philip Lutheran Church in Littleton, Colorado where he was active with the men’s Bible Study and men’s breakfast. Joel generously donated to those in need through his church and many other organizations.

Joel will be remembered most for his kind heart, warm smile, love of jokes, caring for people all around the world – and especially for his love of ice cream.

Joel is preceded in death by his parents, Joel B. Sigdestad and Clarice A. (Distad) Sigdestad, and his sister Mickey Lester. He is survived by his wife Barb; his three sisters Gretel Haaland, Synneve (Charlie) Jones, Kathy (Jack) Pendley; children Kristen (Mike) Saathoff, Joe (Holly) Sigdestad, Karin (Garry) Rohleder, eight grandchildren: Karyn, Kalie, and Anna Saathoff; Allison and Thomas Sigdestad; Conrad (Sakura), Colten (Noel), and Nicholas Rohleder; and one great grandchild, Toma Rohleder.

Services will be held at St.Philip Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado on Thursday, December 19, 2024 starting with a viewing at 9 am followed by the memorial services at 10 am. 

The service can also be viewed livestream via zoom at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87140268062?pwd=qtj65j4tWO7qaUfXjywbev0SU3S5rx.1

Meeting ID: 871 4026 8062

Passcode: 828295

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+17193594580,,87140268062#,,,,*828295# US

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Operation Bootstrap Africa

Please share memories and condolences with Joel's family by signing the guestbook.