The Empty Classroom: Mourning a Community Anchor

The Orange City, Iowa, community and the entire MOC-Floyd Valley School District are paralyzed by immense shock and profound grief following the sudden and utterly unexpected passing of Joel Boersma. At the age of 48, Joel—a beloved math teacher, dedicated wrestling coach, husband, and father—passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 8, 2025, near Hospers. His sudden, premature departure leaves an immense, shocking void in the school system and the lives of the countless students and athletes he mentored.

More Than a Mentor: A Legacy of Loyalty and Laughter

Joel Boersma was a cornerstone of the MOC-Floyd Valley community, having not only taught there for 23 years but also having graduated from the high school himself. Known for his patience in the sixth-grade math classroom and his passion on the wrestling mat, he poured his life into shaping young people, instilling lessons of perseverance and character that transcended academics and athletics. His agony is felt most acutely by his devoted wife, Angela, who also teaches in the district, and his three beloved children, Becca, Andrew, and Greta. To lose a vibrant, active pillar of the community, a family man so deeply rooted in the area, cruelly and without warning is an agonizing trauma for everyone who relied on his steady presence and humor.

An Anchor in Solidarity: The MOC-FV Family Rallies

In the face of this devastating loss, the MOC-Floyd Valley family must rally together with fierce solidarity to support the Boersma family, who are now navigating this unimaginable sorrow. To truly honor Joel Boersma is to embody the spirit of commitment, loyalty, and community he demonstrated every day—whether he was teaching math, coaching wrestling, or smoking delicious BBQ for his family and friends. May the collective support and deep bonds of the Orange City area serve as an essential anchor, providing solace and strength. His memory will live on in the hearts and successes of the thousands of students he taught and coached.