Joel was born in 1939 to loving parents, Edwin and Adelaide Goldstrand. He joined brother Bruce in their home in North Branch, MN where they lived until he was in seventh grade. In 1952 Joel moved to Worthington, MN. Here the family opened Goldstrand Market where Bruce and Joel worked regularly. Joel’s love of golf was already established, and he spent many hours at the local course.
Joel was active in his church, First Lutheran, and his faith became important to him very early on. It was at First Lutheran where Joel first met Solveig.
Joel played both basketball and golf in high school and was a part of the 1957 state championship golf team. He received a scholarship to play golf at the University of Houston where he was a part of three national championship teams. During college, Joel reconnected with Solveig. They were engaged and then married in 1963.
Joel graduated from Houston with a Business degree, enlisted in the Army Reserve, and began working for Aetna in Houston. In 1965 he qualified for the PGA Tour and spent 8 years traveling to tournaments. His most notable accomplishments were finishing 12th in the 1970 US Open and qualifying for the 1971 Master’s Tournament. He was also the first player on the Tour to use PING irons. The family grew with children Lorna Lynn in 1969, Lee Edwin in 1972, and Becky Louise in 1975. Joel left the Tour in 1973 and became the Head Pro at Minneapolis Golf Club. He also began designing golf courses. This turned into a full-time job in 1989 and Joel designed almost 100 courses throughout his career. Joel loved sports, coaching, reading books on theology, and traveling with Solveig, and his eleven grandchildren.
Joel’s decline due to Alzheimer’s necessitated a move to memory care in 2022. But through it all, he knew and loved his family. Joel went home to be with Jesus on November 13th, 2022. He was surrounded by his wife and children as he took his last breath.