Joshua Jordan Cornelius

Joshua “Josh” Jordan Cornelius, age 46, passed away on August 10, 2026, in Hill City, South Dakota. A time for visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 19th at Ellendale United Methodist Church, 200 6th St N, Ellendale 56026, from 9 AM to 12 PM. A funeral service will follow, beginning at 2 PM, followed by burial at Geneva Cemetery.

Josh was born on April 11, 1980, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, to Vernon and Jennifer Cornelius and was raised in Geneva, Minnesota. From an early age, Josh developed the hardworking spirit, loyalty to family and friends, and love for the outdoors that would define so much of his life.

Above everything else, Josh adored his three sons, Jordan, Jayde, and Jacob. Being their dad was one of the greatest joys of his life. He loved watching his boys grow and could not have been prouder of the fine young men they became. Whether they were hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, or simply spending time together, the memories Josh made with his sons were among those he treasured most.

Josh shared his life with his wife, Kiersten Cornelius. His family also included his stepchildren, Dustin (Tiara) Esplan and Alyssa (Carson) Field, and his step-grandchildren, Adline, Melody, Julian, and Jesse.

Josh was a man who loved being outdoors. Ice fishing, fishing the Mississippi River, and spending a day out on the boat were some of his favorite ways to spend his time. He was an avid deer hunter who looked forward to hunting season every year—not only for the hunt itself, but perhaps even more for the time spent with his sons and his buddies.

He loved being on his bike and found special joy riding with his son Jacob and Josh’s friends. Josh also loved to golf, although anyone who knew the story knew he was considerably less enthusiastic about the “snake clipped to the back of your shirt” prank.

And if you knew Josh, you knew there was rarely a dull moment when he was around. He loved burnouts. He loved lighting off fireworks. He loved to laugh, have fun, and make sure everyone around him was having fun too. Josh lived big, laughed big, and loved big. He was the life of the party.

But behind that larger-than-life personality was a man with an enormous heart.

Josh was always willing to help someone who needed him. He was the kind of person who would put someone else’s needs ahead of his own and drop whatever he was doing when a friend, family member, or neighbor needed a hand. That willingness to serve others extended to his community through his volunteer service with the Hollandale Fire Department. Josh was proud to serve, and when someone needed help, he was willing to be the first one to go in and try to save another.

Josh was also an incredibly hardworking man who took tremendous pride in his craftsmanship. He built JC Masonry from the ground up, earning the respect of customers, coworkers, and others in his trade through his skill, work ethic, and the quality of what he built. Like so many things in Josh’s life, he put his whole heart into his work.

Family extended far beyond his immediate household. Josh was a beloved son, brother, uncle, great-uncle, husband, father, stepfather, and grandfather. He was deeply loved by his nieces and nephews, including Alecia (Abner) Ruiz, Lydia Large, and Ethan Cornelius, and his great-nephew, Samual Large. He was also loved well by his many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Josh had an incredible ability to connect with people. Over the years, he built an enormous circle of friends and became deeply connected to his community. To Josh, friends weren’t simply acquaintances. They became part of his life and, often, part of his family. The number of people who loved Josh is a reflection of the way he lived—with generosity, loyalty, humor, and a willingness to show up when someone needed him.

Josh is survived by his wife, Kiersten Cornelius; his sons, Jordan Cornelius and his girlfriend Dani Mertins, Jayde Cornelius and his soon to be wife Madison Proehl, and Jacob Cornelius; his father, Vernon Cornelius; his siblings, Melissa (Henry) Large, Chad (Julie) Cornelius, and Matthew Cornelius; his stepchildren and step-grandchildren; his nieces and nephews; his great-nephew; his many aunts and uncles; and an extraordinary group of friends who were like family to him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Jennifer Cornelius; his nephew, Jared Large; and his niece, Maddison Cornelius.

Forty-six years was nowhere near enough time for a life as big as Josh’s. But in those years, he built a family he treasured, a business he was proud of, friendships that ran deep, and a lifetime of stories that will continue to be told around campfires, on boats, in deer stands, on motorcycle rides, on golf courses, and anywhere else the people who loved him gather.

There will never be another Josh.

He lived big. He laughed big. He loved big. And he will be missed beyond measure.

The livestream link below is a complimentary service provided by Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Service.

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