Joel Benjamin Lane was born August 9, 1972 in Oklahoma City, the son of Douglas Benjamin Lane and Marianne (Trosper) Lane. Joel completed this life on Monday, September 25, 2023 at the age of 51.

From nearly the time he could walk, Joel's athletic talent was apparent. He excelled at any sport he played, and this was the breeding ground for friendships that lasted his whole life. He graduated from Yukon High School in 1990 and continued playing baseball during his short stay at Redlands Community College.

Joel could GAME. You name it: baseball, football, swimming, golf, darts, pool, cornhole. His competitive nature carried well beyond sports, even down to his Dirty Santa strategy with Lenee, which always brought home the gold every Christmas. If you played Joel at any game, you had to be prepared to lose. If you played him in a bar, it meant one thing: you don't like money.

Joel spotted Lenee in Pharmacy school, and saw immediately that she was beautiful, smart, feisty, and therefore completely out of his league. He somehow gathered enough courage to ask her out and a power couple was born. They completed the doctorate program at OU Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy and married along the way on May 16, 1998. They graduated together in 1999 and went on to complete specialized residencies together at Texas Tech University HSC School of Pharmacy.

Joel and Lenee built a house on Northwood Lake in Piedmont that immediately became a magnet for gatherings. The number for a normal party was 30+, but there was usually no way to count, and not enough trash-can space for the beer cans. Walk out on the porch on any late night and over half of the banter will be coming from a loud voice that loomed over the crowd. Joel's sense of humor could range the gamut, from low-brow to biting, one-line zingers. Not many could match wits.

Along came Lauren, then Amanda. The "Dad" in Joel was strong. School performance was primary, but, of course, sports was a very close second. Both girls were encouraged to play a sport and participate in team building programs, and it did not matter what. Soccer, volleyball, karate, softball, golf, Odyssey of the Mind. He was a passionate and skilled coach and teacher for all their activities.

Red dirt music was Joel's favorite. He was among the crew that volunteered many years for the Mile 0 Festival in Key West.

He was affiliated with Integris Pro-health since 2011 where he was Director of Pharmacy.

Joel is survived by his wife of 25 years, Lenee; his daughters, Lauren and Amanda of Piedmont, OK; his mother, Marianne Lane of Edmond, OK; his father and step-mother, Doug and Diane Lane of Eagle Rock, MO; his sister, Amy Lane Jodie and her husband, Kertt of Evergreen, CO; his father and mother-in-law, Allen and Linda Arms of Oklahoma City; his uncle and aunt, Tim and Coleen Trosper, and Peggy Sather; his nephews and niece, Jace and Ty Jodie, and Braden, Hannah, Jacob, and Andrew Arms; his cousins, Dustin Trosper and Sean McCarty; numerous other relatives and close friends.

It is impossible to summarize Joel. We hope you join us to celebrate him, cry for his absence, laugh at the stories, and help us share our sadness as we say goodbye to this exceptional human being.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 30, 2023 at Heritage Baptist Church, 14317 N. Council Road, Oklahoma City, OK. A reception will follow at Heartland Pub and Grill, 3100 Colony Point Blvd., Piedmont, OK.

Memorials may be made to Good Sports at goodsports.org. Lauren and Amanda picked this organization because it really represents Joel's heart when it comes to sports. They drive equitable access in youth sports and physical activity by supporting children in high-need communities to achieve their greatest potential on the field and in life.