Wednesday, December 10th, 2025
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Wednesday, December 10th, 2025

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A year-end reflection on loss, love, and the legacy of outdoor connections

Gretchen Steele writes that Ron "Jolly" Joellenbeck, pictured, spent his lifetime on the river, and likely instinctively understood the lower Kaskaskia River in Illinois better than all the biologists, hydrologists, and land management experts combined. (Contributed photo)

As Winter Solstice nears along with the end of the year, I seem to always become more introspective. It’s as if this particular season serves as a poignant juncture for said introspection, particularly when contemplating the losses endured and the cherished relationships that have ended.
Many of those losses include special mentors and friends with whom I’ve shared many an outdoor adventure. It’s especially true this year after we recently lost a lower Kaskaskia legend, Ron “Jolly” Joellenbeck.

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