Joshua Cauwels, 36, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away suddenly on April 21, 2026.

To view the livestream of the service, CLICK HERE

Joshua was born on August 8, 1989, at Avera in Sioux Falls, SD, to Jeffrey and Maria (Lavoie) Cauwels. He grew up in the Marshall, MN area, and graduated from high school in 2008. He later made his home in Sioux Falls, where he built his life and formed lasting friendships and connections within the community. Josh was later united in marriage to Jeni (Habeger) Mortinson, where they had three beautiful children, Lucille, Ophelia, and Ernest ("Ernie").

Josh was a valued employee at St. Francis House and was recently honored as Employee of the Month. He took great pride in his work and the relationships he built there.

Josh was known for being a great friend to many. He had a wide circle of friends and made a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to know him. He also had a deep passion for Minnesota sports, especially cheering on the Minnesota Vikings—believing there was "always next year"—and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He is survived by his daughters, Lucille and Ophelia of Madison, SD; his father, Jeffrey Cauwels of Marshall; his siblings, Jesse Cauwels of Sioux Falls, Jeremy (Callie) Cauwels of Madison, SD, Destiny (Brandan) Stynski of Marshall, and Christopher Cauwels of Marshall; as well as his nephew, Joseph Cauwels, niece, Emmy Cauwels, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Ernie, the loss of whom in 2019 was a grief Josh carried with him always; his mother, Maria Lavoie; his paternal grandparents, Vincent and Patricia Cauwels; his maternal grandparents, Ronald and Mary Ellen Lavoie; and his dear friend, Michael "Mikey" Afdem.

Josh's life was marked by his strength, his loyalty, and the deep love he had for his family. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. For Josh, the best moments in life were the simple ones—being together, sharing a game, and holding onto the people he loved.

In honor of Josh's love for the Minnesota Vikings, his daughters ask that attendees wear purple and gold Vikings attire. They also invite Josh's friends to write down and share their favorite memories of him in letters, which will be cherished by his girls for years to come.

Josh's memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him. His family extends a special and heartfelt thank you to the staff at the St. Francis House for their care, compassion, and unwavering support for not only Josh, but also his family.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions to assist with funeral expenses or donations to the St. Francis House. Any additional funds will be dedicated to the care and support of Joshua's children. A GoFundMe account has been set up by the family to assist with funeral expenses.

CLICK HERE to access the link to GoFundMe.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 1st at 10:30 AM at Miller Funeral Home - Downtown Location (507 S Main Ave) in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation, with family present, will take place one hour prior to the start of the service. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at St. Francis House (210 N Sherman Ave).