Joe D Rich

Joe D. Rich of Ottawa, Kansas passed peacefully in his sleep on January 11, 2023 at the age of 86 at Richmond Healthcare in Richmond, Kansas.

 Joe was born August 26, 1936 at home in Westphalia, Kansas to Joe and Donna June (Thompson) Rich. They moved to McPherson in the Fall of 1937. He attended McPherson Public Schools and graduated from McPherson College in 1958.

Joe married his high school sweetheart, Ann Janet Johnson November 18, 1956. She preceded him in death on December 2, 1996. They had two children, Joann Curtin (Robert) of Nevada, Missouri and Bryan Rich (Diana) of Williamsburg, Kansas; three grandchildren, Sara Rich (Jeremy Killian) of Conway, South Carolina, Amy Rich (Brandon Davis) of Leoti, Kansas and Ty Rich (Katie) of Gridley, Kansas; two great-grandchildren Easton Douglas Rich and Delaney Susan Rich of Gridley, Kansas; and a brother Craig Rich (Crystal) of Wichita, Kansas and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joe taught school in Wichita, Kansas for 3 years following graduation from college and also worked for Farmer’s Alliance Mutual Insurance starting in 1958. He worked in the insurance adjusting field in many aspects, finally founding Royal Adjusters, Inc. with Ann in 1992. He and Ann spent 10 years traveling the US, working various hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and hail storms. He completed 55 years adjusting.

Joe was very active in Abdallah Shrine, holding many positions including Building Association, Building Manager and Divan. He held many offices of the Director’s Staff including Director, Franklin County Shrine Club and the Red Zone Committee. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Kansas Shrine Bowl and was president in 2006. Joe was the Coordinator of the Red Cross for Franklin County and blood drives in Ottawa as well as disaster relief. He was a member of the Kansas Claims Association from 1958 until his death and was president in 2006. He was a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators since 1963, and was a long time board member of the Kansas Chapter, receiving the Lifetime Award in 2009. He was a board member of the Franklin County United Way, Franklin County Emergency Management Planning Committee Johnson County Fire Chiefs Burn Prevention Committee, receiving the Vern McNatt Award in 2010. He was a member of the Veteran’s Day Celebration committee and Franklin County Emergency Temporary Housing. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Ottawa, Kansas serving as Elder many years, was Chairman of the Board for many years as well as a Sunday School teacher. He was awarded Elder Emeritus status in 2016.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Christian Church of Ottawa, KS on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:30am.

It would please Joe to have any memorials donated to the First Christian Church, Ottawa, Kansas c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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