Edel: What?

Joe Edel's Obituary: The Quiet Carpenter Who Outlived Us All

Okay, so I'm reading this obit for a guy named Joe Edel. Carpenter, 94 years old, lived a quiet life in Faribault, Minnesota. Honestly, it's the kind of life most of us probably think we want – simple, honest work, family, a garden. But let's be real, how many of us are actually gonna make it to 94 without getting sucked into the digital hellscape we've created?

The Appeal of a Life Offline

"Joe worked as a carpenter for over 40 years and owned and operated his own company...until his retirement in 1988." 1988! That's practically the Stone Age. No email, no social media, no 24-hour news cycle screaming at you from your phone. He probably didn't even have a cell phone, let alone doomscroll through Twitter.

And get this: "Joe was a talented wood worker and was very handy at making anything someone would want." Making things with his hands. Imagine that. Actually creating something tangible instead of just consuming endless streams of garbage content online.

"He also enjoyed working in his garden and spent many hours there weekly taking care of his crops that he was growing." A garden! I can barely keep a cactus alive. The most "nature" I get is the walk from my apartment to the coffee shop.

Is this guy a saint? Or just someone who knew how to live before everything went to hell?

The Invisible Man

Here's the thing that really gets me: Joe Edel lived a long life, seemingly without leaving much of a digital footprint. I mean, there's this obit, and then there's something about "Edel Rodriguez’s ‘Mayor Mamdani’"...which, I gotta be honest, I have zero clue what that has to do with anything. Some kind of cookie setting? Give me a break.

It's like he existed outside the algorithm. He built houses, grew vegetables, went fishing, and then...he was gone. No viral tweets, no LinkedIn profile, no Instagram photos of his perfectly plated meals. Just...life.

It's almost unsettling, isn't it? In a world where we're constantly told to "build our brand" and "curate our online presence," this guy just...didn't.

Was he happier for it? Did he miss out on something? And more importantly, did he even care? I suspect the answer is no.

I'm not sure, offcourse, if I could do it. The digital world has its hooks in me deep.

The Inevitable End

"Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025...Interment will be held at Trebon Cemetery." The end of the line. Just like everyone else. Rich, poor, famous, anonymous...dust to dust.

But here's the difference: Joe Edel's life wasn't defined by clicks, likes, or shares. It was defined by the things he built, the things he grew, and the people he loved. The details of his life and passing are available in Joseph B. "Joe" Edel Obituary September 8, 2025.

And maybe, just maybe, that's a better way to be remembered than as a trending topic.

So What's the Point?

Look, I ain't saying we should all quit our jobs and become Amish carpenters. But maybe, just maybe, we could all take a little inspiration from Joe Edel's life. Put down our phones, get our hands dirty, and actually do something real. Before it's too late.