Joel Ayala, 95, of Pleasant Prairie passed away on July 5, 2023, surrounded by his loving family.
Joel was born on April 26, 1928, in Libertyville, IL, the son of the late Guadalupe and Maria (Bariosz) Ayala. He was educated in the schools of Libertyville and earned a degree from Lake Forest School of Management. Joel married Alyce Klema on March 6, 1954, who later passed away on April 5, 2015. He was employed for OMC/Johnson Motors for many years. He worked his way up from a factory worker to a plant foreman which he retired from in 1987. Joel was enlisted in the United States Army in 1946 where he received a World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Japan. His hobbies included woodworking, gardening, cheering for the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs but most of all he loved spending time with his friends and family, especially with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his children, Mary Jo (Dennis) Leveque of Elkhorn, Debi (Dan) Bonnes of Pleasant Prairie; stepsons, Robert (Karen) Ludlow of Libertyville, IL, Ronald Ludlow of Kenosha; sibling, Ortensia (Tess) Dela Pena of Baraboo; grandchildren, Scott Ludlow of TX, Allisen (Scott) Ludlow MacRitchie of UT, Kimmie (Virginia) Ludlow Gutierrez of VA, Todd (Jenny) Ludlow of IL, TJ (Becky) Leveque of WI, Andrew Leveque of WI, Jennifer Bonnes Grigsby of IL, Brittany (Steve Kramer) Bonnes of WI and Daniel Bonnes of WI; also included are many great-grandchildren. Joel was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers, Rueben Jernal, Concepcion and his sister, Connie.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
