Joel Nicholas Atkinson, 25

Joel Nicholas Atkinson died May 12, 2007, while following his passion, skydiving.

Joel was born to Gail (Shay) and Jim Atkinson on Aug. 4, 1981, in Kalispell.

Joel was an intellectual individualist. He was well known for his smile and its contagious compassion. Joel never knew a stranger and always kept a friend.

Joel attended Flathead Valley Community College.

On his 18th birthday, Joel discovered his love of skydiving. He worked his way through the ranks, starting packing parachutes and going on to earn his D license, coach rating and tandem rating. He was a member of the United States Parachute Association, and an experienced skydiver with approximately 1,400 jumps. He was a respected instructor at Lost Prairie, his home base, and was able to jump year-round at drop zones across the country.

At the time of his death, Joel was working as a skydiving instructor at Lost Prairie, and a delivery driver for Pizza Hut in Kalispell.

Joel was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Dwight Atkinson, Helen (Atkinson) Metier and Tom Metier; maternal grandfather, Al Shay; his cousin, Russ Schulte; several friends; and his dog, Mr. Chips.

Joel is survived by his mother, Gail Ann Linne, and her husband, Mitch, of Columbia Falls; his father, Jim Clark Atkinson, and his wife, Vivian, of Kalispell; his brother, Wade Michael Atkinson, of Seattle and his fiancee, Stacy Amundson; stepbrothers and sisters, Justin Linne and Bill Linne, both of Spokane, Crystal Boyd and Jason Gronley, both of Kalispell, and Wendy Helm of Portland; his grandparents, Gladys (Van) Shay of Columbia Falls, Jean Linne of Clearwater, Fla., Marjie MacDonald of Columbia Falls, and Connie and Don Swanberg of Kalispell; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and numerous friends, including those in the skydiving community.

Funeral services are at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at Glacier Church, 690 Grandview Drive, in Kalispell, with Pastor Hal Irvine officiating.

There will be a memorial that will honor Joel's intense love for skydiving. Those who would like to contribute are invited to do so at the Joel Atkinson Memorial Fund, care of Wells Fargo Bank, P.O. Box 88, Kalispell MT 59903.