Joseph Long, age 56, of Adrian, Michigan passed away peacefully on August 4th, 2026.

Born on January 20th, 1970 in Adrian, Michigan to David and Judith (Miller) Long, Joe lived a life defined by faith, family, and community.

For years, Joe poured his heart into coaching basketball. To him, a basketball court was never just about wins and losses, it was a place to mentor young men and women and teach them about life. With endless patience, encouragement, and leadership, he impacted countless student-athletes, teaching them lessons about teamwork, grit, and character that stayed with them long after the final whistle.

About a year and a half ago, Joe experienced a profound turning point in his life after reading the book No More Dragons by Jim Burgen. Inspired to face and overcome his own personal dragons, Joe's faith took on a whole new depth. He began following Pastor Jim Burgen of Flatirons Church in Colorado, which led him to attend the Men’s Summit in Colorado last August. Surrounding himself with 450 men worshipping and praising Jesus, Joe was baptized and re-dedicated his life to the Lord. He went on to join a virtual men's group called the Herd, led by Jim’s team, continuing to walk closely with God every week. More than anything, Joe’s heart's desire was for others to experience the same transformative relationship with Jesus that changed his own life.

Joe’s deep faith in God was at the core of who he was, and he loved being an active part of his church family at NewLife Church. Joe had a true servant's heart and a knack for fixing just about anything. You could always count on him to show up with his tools, ready to lend a hand, tackle a big project, or help a friend in need without ever expecting anything in return.

Joe loved spending time outdoors hunting as well as many camping trips. Together Joe and Angie loved to travel. They enjoyed traveling to warm places in the winter; especially the Dominican Republic and Arizona. They traveled quite a bit the last several years experiencing Jamaica, the Bahamas and Greece. They made so many memories together and built lifelong friendships everywhere they went. He was also a passionate Ohio State fan proudly cheering on his beloved Buckeyes through every season.

Joe’s work was far more than just a job; he truly loved his role at Plymouth Christian Academy and Calvary Baptist Church, where he flourished in every sense of the word. He especially loved listening to the elementary students singing praise and worship songs in Chapel. Over his time at PCA and Calvary Baptist, Joe built an incredible community and created a second family among the students, staff, and parents.

His daughters were his world, and he made sure to keep them smiling and rolling their eyes with his many dad jokes. Above all, Joe’s greatest joy was his family. He treasured every moment spent together, leaving behind a legacy of unconditional love, laughter, and cherished memories.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of 37 years, Angela (Gale) Long; his children, Alyse, Alexis (Matt), and Anna (Alex) and his grandchildren, Jackson, Adalyn, and Beau; his mother, Judy, his sister, Lynda (Ricky), his brother, David (Sarra), and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by his father David, his brother Paul, and his nephew Jeremy.

A visitation for Joe will be held on Friday, August 7th from 2pm- 7pm at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home in Adrian, Michigan and a service celebrating Joe’s life will be held on Saturday, August 8th at 11am at NewLife Church in Adrian, Michigan. There will be a viewing at 10am before the service at NewLife Church.

Memorial contributions in Joe’s honor may be made to The Legacy of Joe Long Scholarship Fund

Honor the Legacy of Joe Long

In memory of Joe, whose life was impacted by the Rocky Mountain Men's Summit, help more men encounter Jesus and become leaders of men through The Herd.

Team Members