[xk] In Memorium - ex jag

XK
1

It is with great sorrow that I have to report the passing of
Joel Ljungkull, known on this list as ex jag. Joel lived in
north Texas, but he had a cabin in California and he was
visiting there when he passed away on the night of December
23/24 due to heart problems.

Many of you on this list have benefited from Joel’s
extensive knowledge of Jaguars in particular and automobiles
in general. What most of you couldn’t benefit from was his
tremendous personality and love of life. He was always
upbeat and did his best to help anyone any way that he could.

He was a long time member of the Jaguar Drivers Club of
North Texas. All of our meetings are held in the Dallas
area, but Joel would gladly drive the 120 to 140 mile round
trip multiple times a month to participate in our
activities. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

My understanding is that there will be a memorial service
sometime in January. He was 63. His survived by his wife,
Paula, and a son and a daughter.–
John Louden XK140, XK8
Plano, Texas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–

1 Like
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“Great Sorrow” cannot begin to convey what I feel…
Joel was part of an impromptu “Three Musketeers” group
comprised of Joel, Brian T. (northeast Tarrant County, Texas)
and myself (Burleson, Texas)… Joel made a couple of treks
to my house, picking-up Brian along the way (from
Denison to Burleson is an easy 125 mile one-way drive)…
with the specific intent of allowing me to drive his
XK140DHC on a 10-15 mile “road test”… Joel called it
“Incentive” for me to accelerate progress on my 120DHC!!
These treks were called “Road Trips” by Joel and another
was planned “soon” as several were postponed due to issues
with his foot which resulted in several surgeries to amputate
a big toe, part(s) of his foot, a “special” shoe being made and
a helluva lot of the physical therapy that followed.
I was also priviledged to meet Joel and Paula at several
“ABCD” (All British Car Days) events held annually at
White Rock Lake in Dallas (Texas). The Jaguar Drivers
Club of North Texas always had a contengent represented.
At one “ABCD” event, Joel drove in with a wrapped Brisket
sitting in the “valley” between the cams of his 140… He
“claimed” to have cooked it on the drive from Denison to
Dallas… BS often ran deep at gatherings like these ;-} Both
Joel and John L. were there the times I visited the event.
John L made the comment that: “What most of you couldn’t
benefit from was his tremendous personality and love of life.
He was always upbeat and did his best to help anyone any
way that he could.”… John, you could not have “nailed it”
any better than that… I am most fortunate that I had the
honor of benefiting from Joel’s friendship as well as
experiencing what you call " his tremendous personality"…
I’d call it his “effervescent personality”… I never saw him
“down beat”, not even after he sliced his leg open on his 140’s
passenger door… he bled all over my living room floor, being
apologetic while I “doctored” his wound… I even give him a
pair of socks to wear home… Brian washed the blood out of
the one, but I could not have my friend wearing one white
sock (his), go barefoot or wear one black sock (mine) on his
return home to Denison ;-}
I will miss Joel’s XK-List comments, his personal e-mails,
personal visits and, most of all, his friendship…
It’s a sad day, today…
Charles #677556----- Original Message -----
From: “John Louden” jrlouden@gmail.com
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 10:14 AM
Subject: [xk] In Memorium - ex jag

It is with great sorrow that I have to report the passing of
Joel Ljungkull, known on this list as ex jag. Joel lived in
north Texas, but he had a cabin in California and he was
visiting there when he passed away on the night of December
23/24 due to heart problems.

Many of you on this list have benefited from Joel’s
extensive knowledge of Jaguars in particular and automobiles
in general. What most of you couldn’t benefit from was his
tremendous personality and love of life. He was always
upbeat and did his best to help anyone any way that he could.

He was a long time member of the Jaguar Drivers Club of
North Texas. All of our meetings are held in the Dallas
area, but Joel would gladly drive the 120 to 140 mile round
trip multiple times a month to participate in our
activities. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

My understanding is that there will be a memorial service
sometime in January. He was 63. His survived by his wife,
Paula, and a son and a daughter.

John Louden XK140, XK8
Plano, Texas, United States

3

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

John, thanks so much for letting us know about Joel. While I did
not know him personally, I had the good fortune to interact with
him several time early this year on an oil filter leak problem I
was having. Joel was excellent and would write me to ask if I had
solved the problem yet and to be sure to let him know what I
found. I was totally impressed with him and his willingness to
help another Jag lover. I’ve also followed his writing on the
forum since I became an XK owner last year and see that he has
been an active member with wise advice. The only thing I did not
understand is why he was ‘‘ex Jag’’ instead of ‘‘the Jag.’’ As far
as I could tell there was nothing ex about him. My sympathy to
his family and all his good Jag friends in Texas. RIP Joel.–
Etch, Etype S1 coupes, XK140 roadsters, Ariel Atom, 911
Spring Hill. fl, United States
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4

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

This is sad news indeed.
I never met Joel personally, but he has helped me with
XK140 DHC advice on numerous occasions, via various
emails, JagLovers postings, and an actual written letter
or two.

One time, he even gave me, gratis, a part which was
missing from my 140.

He did seem to be the type of person I would have liked to
meet some day. That cannot ever happen now.

His story, related in a JagLovers post several years ago,
describing his preparations and subsequent road trip in
his 140 to attend an actual Tom Petty concert, was both
entertaining and memorable.

Whenever I happen to view that one small component of my
140, provided to me by Joel, I will be reminded of him.

My sympathies to his family, and may he rest in peace.–
The original message included these comments:

upbeat and did his best to help anyone any way that he could.

–
Gary Grant S818919DN
Ottawa, Canada
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5

In reply to a message from Etch sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

When we use our name on the forum it creates
friendship…for me when something like ‘‘ex jag’’ is used for
me it sends a ‘‘do not disturb…or fear signal’’…I am ‘‘old
school’’…these are old cars…I just…well I am just
talking to a ‘‘no body’’…
So sad…
Look…in this ‘‘developed world’’ there is no ‘‘privacy’’…
Look I am just going to leave it at that…
Mitch Roe–
Mitchell Roe
Hasty, United States
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6

In reply to a message from Gary Grant sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

I wish we all would use our names…when I see ‘‘ex jag’’ it
denotes, for me, a do not disturb sign…or fear. It does
not create friendship…so impersonal…
So sad…
I am ‘‘old school’’ and these are old cars…when I meet
someone I expect to know there name…
Look in our developed world we have no privacy…
I will just leave it at that…when I see ‘‘ex jag’’…it has
no meaning to me…a caring person…news to me…
So sad…
Mitch Roe–
Mitchell Roe
Hasty, United States
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7

Sad report indeed.

Joel will be missed.
My sincere condolences to his family.

Rick____________________________________________________________
Fast, Secure, NetZero 4G Mobile Broadband. Try it.
http://www.netzero.net/?refcd=NZINTISP0512T4GOUT2

8

Gentle Listers, like the rest of you, I am deeply saddened to hear of Joel’s death. I got to know him from a few meetings of the Dallas Jag club, but mostly through our mutual friend and XK guru, Charles Bishop.

The three of us spent some very enjoyable days at the ABCD and at Charles’ “Chez Bishop” South of Fort Worth where knocked back a few and talked of XKs and other esoteric things. Charles has gone into some detail about that visit and the only regret I have is it started to rain a bit when Charles got back from his “incentive excursion” and I didn’t get a chance to drive his beautiful 140. My 120 FHC is mired in similar doldrums to Charles’ as a ‘work in progress’ and will probably take as long to finish.

All who knew him both vicariously through his postings and personally as a friend will miss Joel his knowledge, willingness to help and his wining personality very much.

It is a sad day, indeed, in a sad year. I do hope the coming year is much better for all of us.

Best, Brian

9

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

John, I wonder if you would post a time and date if you
learn of a memorial service. Thank you.–
The original message included these comments:

My understanding is that there will be a memorial service
sometime in January. He was 63. His survived by his wife,

–
Eric
DFW Texas, United States
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10

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Wed 30 Dec 2015:

As a good friend of Joel�s in the Jaguar Driver�s Club of
North Texas, I want to say that Joel was truly one of
the �good guys,� and all of us in the club benefitted from
his presence. He always seemed to treat our club was a
part of his extended family, rarely missing a dinner
meeting, a planned event, or even an officer�s meeting � despite the three
despite the three-hour round trip from his home. He could
also be counted on to make new members feel instantly
welcome. I know that Joel and Paula loved all of us, and
we loved them, too. Despite Joel�s ordeal with his foot
over the past few years, he was always ready with a smile
and, usually, a story.

Joel provided many ideas for club activities and was the
originator of our �Manifold Gourmet� event, in which all of
the food must be cooked, or at least kept warm, in our
engine compartments. Some of you may have seen an article,
co-authored by Joel, about this event in the Jaguar Journal
a few years ago.

I was not surprised when he showed up for our most recent
slalom in the fall and, true to form, even with a walking
boot on his foot, he managed to make a few runs in his
beloved XK140, one of his proudest possessions.

Joel knew his Jags (as many on this forum can attest), and
was always one of the first people that we turned to for help and advice
help and advice. When someone�s car broke down during an
event (believe it or not, that sometimes happens) Joel
could be counted on to be one of the first on the scene.

It is not easy for any of us to say Goodbye to such a good friend.
friend.–
The original message included these comments:

It is with great sorrow that I have to report the passing of
Joel Ljungkull, known on this list as ex jag. Joel lived in

–
Glen - 69 E-type OTS, 2000 XK8, 59 MGA
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11

In reply to a message from 64etype sent Thu 31 Dec 2015:

I have not heard anything definite at this time. The only
tentative detail I’ve heard so far is that it is likely to
be held on January 9th. I’ll pass on any new information as
I get it.–
The original message included these comments:

John, I wonder if you would post a time and date if you
learn of a memorial service. Thank you.

–
John Louden XK140, XK8
Plano, Texas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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12

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Fri 1 Jan 2016:

Thank you, John.–
The original message included these comments:

be held on January 9th. I’ll pass on any new information as
I get it.

–
Eric
DFW Texas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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13

In reply to a message from John Louden sent Fri 1 Jan 2016:

Joel’s memorial service will be held at 2:00 on Saturday,
January 23rd at the Bratcher Funeral Home, 401 West Woodard,
Denison, Tx. Their phone number is 903-465-2323.

Here is a copy of the obituary published on their website:

DENISON � Joel Ljungkull, 63, passed away Thursday, December
24, 2015 in Lake Arrowhead, California.

Joel was born Friday, April 18, 1952 in St. Paul, Minnesota,
the son of Lars and Donna Ljungkull. He was owner/operator
of a rental property business; was an engineer at heart
because he could fix anything; loved restoring cars and
belonged to North Texas Jaguar Club. He also loves animals
and sailing.

He is survived by his wife Paula of Denison, Texas; son
Christopher Ljungkull and wife Ris� of Concord, California;
daughter Lindsay Clark and husband Brad of Los Angeles,
California; brother Stephen Friend; sister Sara Ljungkull;
grandchildren Oliver Clark, Amelia Clark and Willa Ljungkull.

He is predeceased by his parents and brother Richard Friend.

There will be a memorial service at 2:00 pm, Saturday,
January 23, 2015 at Bratcher Funeral Home in Denison, Texas.–
John Louden XK140, XK8
Plano, Texas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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14

Late to this: I’d wondered what became of Joel…RIP.