Joel Jules Brewer

Joel Jules Brewer, age 64, of Yankton, South Dakota, passed away at his home on March 10, 2026.

Born on January 25, 1962, in Sisseton, South Dakota, to Louis and Dorothy (Redwing) Brewer, Joe grew up in foster care before being adopted by Neils and Etta Sorensen. He spent his early years as a farm boy in small towns across South Dakota. In 2008, he married Susan Gleich in Bayfield, Colorado. The couple lived in Colorado for 36 years, where Joe built a career in fire and water restoration, carpentry, fencing, and countless other trades.

Joe was a man who loved to teach and help others. He found joy in laughter, the outdoors, and especially the mountains. A devoted listener of old-school music, he was a proud member of the Santee Sioux Tribe and the Yankton Sioux Tribe.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Brewer; daughter, Jennifer Brewer; sons, James and Joshua Brewer; two step-sons, Joseph and Christopher Newton; brothers, Jeff and Bill Brewer; sister-in-law, Kathy Brewer; and nine grandchildren. Joe was preceded in death by his brother, Louis “Chip” Brewer, his biological and adoptive parents, and many beloved family friends and dogs.