Joshua Hardwick

Joshua Hardwick, 43, of Abilene, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Friday, April 10, 2026, at Beltway Park Church South with Pastor Michael Smith officiating. A private burial will follow. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Josh was born in Lamar, Colorado to James and Tresa Hardwick on March 23, 1983. His family moved several times during his childhood. Joshua was baptized on February 2, 1992 at First Christian Church in Dewey, Oklahoma. As he grew older, he would sing with his dad and his sister, Jaci, at various church functions. His love of music came from his dad, whom he loved singing with, and has brought a love of music to our family too.

He graduated from Dimmitt High School in May 2001, where he was involved in football, basketball, baseball, and Odessey of the Mind. Shortly after arriving at Abilene Christian University in August 2001, he met Joanna Kobler at the World Famous Bean at a mutual friends’ birthday party. They were inseparable after that night, and it didn’t take long for him to know she was the one. They were married on May 15, 2004, while still in college.

Josh graduated from ACU with a degree in Youth and Family Ministry on May 7, 2005. He began an internship at Beltway Park Church and faithfully served on staff for 19 years in roles including Children’s Pastor and Family Pastor. Over the many years, he shepherded and ministered to hundreds of kids and families, always pointing them to Jesus and the Father’s heart, and His love for them. Josh was deeply intentional with each person, giving the exact right words at the exact right time, speaking life, and helping them see their identity in Christ.

Josh’s love for Jo and their relationship was beautiful, sacrificial, and inspiring to all those around them. He loved his children deeply and was incredibly proud of each of them – Kaylee, Abby, Emma, Caleb, and Samuel. Spanning 13 years, he experienced life as both a young dad and a more experienced dad, embracing every season with joy and celebrating each of their unique gifts from the Lord.

He valued family time and loved campfires, games, and movies with them. Recently, he was able to coach a couple of his kids’ sports teams and cherished those moments alongside them. He taught his children to love the Lord and led them to their heavenly Father, always pointing them to Jesus in both word and example. He was the dad who stayed up late having deep and meaningful conversations with his girls, and the first to wrestle and play catch with his boys. He taught his kids to tie their shoes and ride their bikes, and he always had a helper by his side when fixing things.

In October 2022, Josh began working towards his Master’s Degree in Counseling through ACU’s online program. In November 2023, he stepped into a new role as director of the Beltway Ministry Center, which opened in May 2024. He poured his heart, love, and prayers into every person and every detail, believing wholeheartedly in the vision and lasting impact of what God was doing through this place.

Josh was full of joy, and known for being goofy, fun and everyone’s favorite. He enjoyed making people laugh, playing simple pranks, and finding humor even in hard times. His heart for his family and everyone he encountered was that they would truly know their value and identity in Jesus. He longed for people to experience freedom and joy in Him.

If you don’t know Jesus today, now is a great time. It’s a great day for a miracle. God is good, faithful, and trustworthy.

Josh was preceded in death by his father, James Hardwick; Grandparents, Floyd and Joyce Hardwick and Patricia Capps; and Brother-in-law, Robert O Kobler.

Josh is survived by his wife, Joanna; his children, Kaylee, Abby, Emma, Caleb, and Samuel; sister, Jaci Hardwick; mother, Tresa Hardwick; Grandfather, Jim Capps; Father-in-law, Robert A Kobler; Mother-in-law, Sigrid Kobler; Brother-in-law, Jonathan Kobler and wife Jennifer; Sister-in-law, Sarah Weise and husband, Chris; nieces and nephews, Jaiden, Tatum, Cylus, and Katelyn; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins on all sides of the family.

Pallbearers will be Andy Booe, Patrick Burke, Nole Hadaway, Eric McClendon, Johnny Morrow, and Victor Roman.

A memorial fund has been established to support the future needs of the Hardwick children at beltway.org/hardwick

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to all who have prayed for Josh throughout his cancer journey. Those prayers were deeply felt and continue to carry his family through it all. Your prayers and support have helped them feel loved, seen, and cared for by the body of Christ.

For those unable to attend in person, the service will be available via livestream at:  https://control.resi.io/webplayer/video.html?type=schedule&id=2cde1531-aa29-44c3-8822-a6d8b2e30c14