Joe Moddrell, Jr.

Joe Moddrell, Jr. Joe was born March 11, 1928 at Wesley Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, died from complications from a brain tumor on November 1, 2017. He was 89 Years old. He attended public schools in Wichita and graduated from East High in 1945. He attended Kansas University graduating in 1949 with a B.A. in business. He joined his father in the insurance business the day after he graduated and had a successful career of 49 years. He was co-founder of IMA and retired as Chairman of the Board in 1998. After a couple of years off, he joined True North, a subsidiary of IMA and a money management firm becoming a registered representative. A health issue caused him to retire a final time in 2007. He was a strong believer in education and was an adjunct professor at WSU for several years and taught industry groups advanced courses in insurance. He was the first person in Kansas to obtain both the CPCU and the CLU professional designations. He had a lifelong love of music, both classical and big band jazz. He became a professional musician at age 15 and because of World War II many bands came to Wichita to play local ballrooms without some key players and he had the opportunity to play in several "name bands". He also played in the KFH staff band, Ringling Bros. circus and the Ice Capades as well as the pit band at the Orpheum theatre. He was manager of the Midian Shrine band. Joes instrument was the trumpet. Joe and wife, Jean, were charter members of the St. Stephens Episcopal Church, and Joe served for several years on the vestry including being the Senior Warden. Joe was active in several civic organizations throughout his business career. He was president of the Wichita Crime Commission and President of the Board at Venture House at Episcopal Social Services. He also served as a member of the board of the Citadel bank and the Globe Savings Bank. He was always involved in various sports activities, water and snow skiing, tennis, sailing, hunting and especially squash, which he played competitively at the national level. He and Jean, and their children, enjoyed for more than 40 years their second home on Grand Lake in Oklahoma. He was an avid pilot with several thousand hours in his logbook. He held a commercial license with multi-engine and instrument ratings as well as a seaplane rating. IMA owned a series of aircraft, single engine and multi-engine, piston and turbine powered, which he flew for the firm until he voluntarily quit flying at age 75. He was a member of the Quiet Birdmen, Bulls & Bears Investment Club, Grumpy Old Men and a member of the Wichita Country Club. He was predeceased by his son, Randy. His survivors are wife, Jean; children, Kathy Deprey (Rod) of Atlanta, GA, Nancy of Wichita, and Jeff Williams of Henderson, NV; grandchildren, James Williams (Lindsey), Peter Deprey and Marie Moddrell. Memorial Service will at 2:00 P.M., Tuesday, November 7, 2017, at St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Memorials are to the Episcopal Social Services, 1010 N Main, Wichita, KS, 67203 and St Stephens Episcopal Church, 7404 Killarney, Wichita, KS, 67206. The family wishes to thank Dr. Ray Fisher and Dr. Ty Schwartzfether who faithfully tried to make Joe as comfortable as possible. Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.