CAMDEN — Joel Ernest Hokkanen, 82, passed away peacefully at Maine Medical Center on November 19, 2025.

Born on January 26, 1943 at Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Sulo Ernest Hokkanen and Norma (Wordelman) Hokkanen (Berke). When Joel was just 5 months old, his father died and he and his mother moved to live with his German grandparents, John and Linda Wordelman, on their farm in Harvey Township, Meeker County, Minnesota. He cherished memories of his early years on this rural family farm. His mother remarried to Fred Berke in 1948 and his sister Jan Berke was born in 1951.

Joel attended school in Litchfield, Minnesota, where he was a high school basketball star and graduated in 1961. As a teenager, his summer jobs included working at the local Green Giant corn canning facility. He attended Carleton College, graduating in 1965. During college summers he worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, living in a remote cabin as a wilderness forest firefighter. He remained in touch with many of his high school and college friends throughout his life.

He began graduate studies at George Washington University in Washington D.C. as a Scottish Rite Fellow in International Relations before joining the Marine Corps in 1966. He served in Vietnam in 1967-68 as an infantry lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, earning the Bronze Star Medal with combat “V”. After discharge from the service, Joel attended American University Law School in Washington D.C., transferring to and graduating from the University of Maine Law School in 1973. He practiced law in Rockland and Rockport, Maine from 1973-2003.

In 1968, while on leave in Hawaii from service in Vietnam, Joel married his first wife, Dorothy (Blanck) Hokkanen, whom he met in 1965 when they were both living in Washington D.C. They settled in Maine in 1971 and had two children together, Joel and Kristina. After their divorce, they cooperated amicably in raising their children and remained close.

Joel married Rebecca (Orne) Oliver of Rockland, Maine in 1986. They built a warm, blended family, which included former spouses, children, six beloved grandchildren, and a rotating cast of family pets including a “summer cat” who faithfully appeared for several seasons.

Inspired by the idea of a simpler life in the woods, Joel built a cottage by hand in the woods on their Rockport property. Working on this cottage became a passion, and over many years the small cottage grew into the home where he and Rebecca lived after retirement. They hosted regular family gatherings and the cottage became a special place for everyone, especially their grandchildren who spent many overnights there with “Nan and Papa.”

Joel was an avid reader, filling every available shelf in the cottage with books, particularly history books. He meticulously catalogued his collection and eventually donated over 7,000 books to the Rockport Public Library. One of his favorite weekend pastimes was to drive to Spruce Head and browse the old Lobster Lane Bookshop. He had a way with words and was an observant writer, sharing his reflections and anecdotes through regular family emails and fondly remembered wedding toasts. Joel also loved to cook (especially pumpkin pies with the grandchildren), share family recipes, and enjoyed eating and talking about good food. He was ever busy “puttering” outside. Countless hours were spent gardening, building stone walls, additions, and outbuildings, and stockpiling firewood. On cold days he always kept the cottage cozy with a woodstove or two. He took pride in his Finnish heritage and built a traditional wood-fired Finnish sauna, which became a Sunday afternoon ritual shared with family and friends. As a New England sports fan, Joel kept up lively correspondence with his friends Ed Miller, John Kirby, Jim Strong, and Stan Karod, debating and discussing all things sports.

Joel and Rebecca spent winter months in Florida where they made new friends and explored parks and beaches. They later lived full time in Florida for a few years before returning to Maine. For the last three years, they lived at Quarry Hill in Camden, Maine, where Joel enjoyed interactions with residents and staff. At the end of his life, he was grateful for the care he received at PenBay Hospital, Breakwater Commons, and Maine Medical Center.

Joel was predeceased by his parents and his stepfather.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca; his former wife, Dottie Hokkanen of Camden, Maine; his son, Joel Hokkanen (wife Kelly) of Rockport, Maine; daughter, Kristina Hokkanen (partner Joe Powers) of Falmouth, Maine; sister, Jan Hopper of Plymouth, Minnesota; stepdaughter, Karen Oliver (husband Doug Aylard) of Columbia, South Carolina; and six grandchildren: Joel (“Jay”) and Karl Hokkanen, and Elsa, Owen, Kate, and Niko Andren.

A private family service will be held at a later date. The family invites you to remember Joel by taking a walk in the woods or reading a good book.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Rockport Public Library in Rockport, Maine.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, Rockland.