October 30, 1929 - March 8, 2026

Joel Henr y Wiens, 96, a longtime resident of Cheyenne, WY, passed away March 8, 2026.

Joel was born October 30, 1929, in Drummond, Oklahoma, the day after the stock market crash that ushered in the Great Depression.

Those early years shaped the resilient and entrepreneurial spirit that defined his life.

Joel attended Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, where he earned his bachelor's degree and met his wife, Phyllis Beu.

Together they raised two sons, Tom and Tim, while living in Alma, Nebraska, where Joel taught high school, coached basketball, and ran wheat har vest crews.

In 1963, Joel purchased First State Bank in Kimball, Nebraska, launching a successful career in banking and business.

Over the years he was involved in numerous ventures including FirsTier Bank, First Interstate Inns, and restaurants such as The Beef and Brunch. Joel also ser ved on the boards of several organizations including George Risk Industries, Phillips University, and the foundations of the University of Wyoming and University of Nebraska. He was also a longtime supporter of Tabor College, an institution that has shaped and influenced multiple generations of the Wiens family.

Joel maintained a lifelong love for agriculture, raising Polled Hereford cattle, including a grand champion bull named Mr. Beef, and continuing to visit his wheat fields and now black Angus cattle even into his later years. He was also an avid supporter of both University of Wyoming and University of Nebraska football.

Joel married Elena Asquith in 2022 after meeting in 2002, and together they enjoyed many years of family and travel to Indian Wells, CA. Joel played a significant role in helping raise her son William Asquith from a young age.

He is sur vived by his wife, Elena Asquith; brother, Terr y Wiens (Jo) Edmond OK; sister-in-law , Anne Wiens, Nor man, OK; sons, Tom Wiens (Diana) Sedalia, CO and Tim Wiens (Jan) Westminster, CO; grandchildren , Lindsey Sears (Vandy) Cheyenne, WY, Lauren Bocci (Joey) Mead, CO, Jordan Wiens (Christine) Broomfield, CO, Travis Wiens (Allison) Sedalia, CO, Sarah Swor (Cade) Chico, TX and Hannah Nelson (Grant) St.

Louis, MO; 14 great-grandchildren with one more on the way; stepchildren , William Asquith (Cheyenne, WY), Tatyana Bannan (Dillon) (Johnstown, CO), and Olga Minorskaya Cheyenne, WY; two step-grandsons , A.J. Minorski and Vasili Bannan.

Joel was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis Wiens, his parents Henr y and Hannah Wiens, and siblings Marlene Mee and Lanny Wiens.

Joel leaves behind a legacy of faith, family, business leadership, and generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who seek to follow Christ and carr y for ward the values he lived by.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your hear t, as working for the Lord."

- Colossians 3:23 The Family invites you to come and celebrate Joel's life at a Memorial Ser vice on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM at Little America, Cheyenne, WY.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Wyoming Family Alliance. https://wyomingfamily.org/ donations/general-c3/