Joel Sheltrown is a life-long resident of northern Michigan's Ogemaw County. He graduated from West Branch High School in 1965 and then attended Western Michigan University and Kirtland Community College.

In 1966, Joel Sheltrown enlisted in the United States Navy and was sent to Viet Nam. He achieved the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer as a Communications Technician with a Top Secret Crypto Clearance. He received an honorable discharge in 1970.

Following his wartime military service overseas, Joel Sheltrown returned to West Branch where he managed his father's John Deere Dealership. In 1978, he purchased a propane dealership in West Branch. He continued in that business until being elected to the Michigan House of Representatives.  Joel Sheltrown has been happily married for 33 years to wife, Teresa. He has three children: Alison, Nick and Don and one grandchild.

Following the traditions of his politically active family from an early age, Joel Sheltrown was elected his high school class vice-president. He served as an Ogemaw Township Trustee from 1978-1988 and as the Ogemaw Township Supervisor from 2000-2004.  He has also served as the vice-president of the Ogemaw County chapter of the Michigan Townships Association.

Apart from his work in elected office, Joel Sheltrown is an active volunteer with the West Branch Crisis Pregnancy Center, the West Branch Public Library, and the West Branch Senior Citizens Center. He holds a music ministry position at Calvary Baptist Church in West Branch and is a member of "Crossing Jordan," a gospel quartet which sings at various churches in northern Michigan. As a well-known local musician, Joel regularly performs at local churches, the West Branch Memorial Day Ceremony, the Ogemaw County Fair Opening Ceremony and helps out with the Jazz Band at Ogemaw Heights High School.  Sheltrown also is very active with the annual Relay for Life events in all four counties he represents.

Joel is a member of Right to Life of Michigan, the National Rifle Association, the Michigan Farm Bureau, the Small Business Association of Michigan, the Michigan Conservation Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Missaukee Conservation Club, Northland Area Federal Credit Union, Higgins Lake Civic Association, West Branch Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Democratic Party, Democrats for Life, Save Our Shoreline, VFW Post 3775, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the West Branch Optimist Club.  In 2005, Joel Sheltrown was elected to serve on the board of directors of the Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners -the first Democrat in the organization's history to serve on its board.

Following his November 2006 re-election to the Michigan House of Representatives, Joel Sheltrown was appointed as chairman of the House Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee.  He also serves on the House Agriculture Committee, House Commerce Committee, House Tax Policy Committee and House Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee.  Sheltrown has earned the reputation of an honest, high-energy lawmaker who gets along well with both Republicans and Democrats.   He currently serves as the House Democratic liaison to the Republican Caucus.

At home in his northern Michigan district, Sheltrown is regarded as one of the most accessible state
legislators the region has seen in recent history.  He attends hundreds of public events every year, often with his trademark saxophone.  He has been an outspoken advocate of the restoration of northern Michigan’s deer herd, changes to the state’s clearcutting policies, and increased recreational access opportunities for ORVs and boats on Michigan’s inland lakes.  Apart from conservation and tourism issues, Sheltrown is focused on job creation in a diversified economy, alternative fuels, and increasing funding for poor and rural school districts and promoting vocational education opportunities.  Sheltrown is also well known in Northeast Michigan as a central force behind the high-wage job creation program at the former Wurtsmith
Air Force base in Oscoda and other economic development projects currently in progress.