Joel R. Mosher

Olathe, Kansas resident, Joel Russell Mosher, an accomplished attorney, passionate Kansas Jayhawks fan, sports car enthusiast and devoted family man died Saturday, March 3, 2012 after a long battle with Guillain-Barre’ syndrome. He is survived by his wife, Andrea; his mother, Ruth; his son Kevin (Valerie); his two cherished grandchildren, Peyton and Joel R. II; his brother, Jeff (Beth Ann); brother-in-law, Rick (Faith) East and his beloved dog, Max. Joel was preceded in death by his father, George M. Mosher.

Almost everyone in the Kansas City legal community and American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Section knew Joel either personally or by reputation. Joel was a zealous advocate for his many clients. He practiced environmental and toxic tort litigation and insurance litigation. After graduating from Drake Law School with honors, Joel began his legal career at Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy PC in 1982 where he became a partner and later left to join Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in 2005. Any attorney who opposed Joel in court both appreciated his unwavering professionalism, and feared and respected his legal aptitude and strategic planning. Joel was an active member of the American Bar Association, Missouri Bar Association and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Joel received many professional awards, including being named a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer.

Joel was born on August 12, 1957 and grew up with many family and friends in Des Moines, Iowa. Early on, his parents realized that Joel was a talented singer. Joel honed his vocal skills while at Drake University where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, summa cum laude. His love of opera singing never faded. He sang in many church choirs, including St. Andrew’s. He was a founding member of the Meistersingers, also known as the Kansas City Civic Opera. Joel’s booming baritone voice was most often heard at every KU basketball game where he would proudly belt out the Alma Mater and Rock Chalk Chant.

As Joel told everyone who met him, his life became complete when he married the love of his life, Andrea. She and Joel traveled through life together arm-in-arm. Joel was a proud parent of his son, Kevin, and an unapologetically-boastful grandparent of Peyton and J.R. Even the casual passer-by would be informed of Peyton’s latest soccer game or J.R.’s great basketball shot.

Joel was truly a man who was more than the sum of his accomplishments. Joel sought out new attorneys to mentor, often teaching new attorney workshops. Even when writing about complex legal issues, Joel could make the murkiest subject clear to any reader. He provided endless encouragement and advice which was most often accompanied with a healthy dose of wit and humor. Even with all of his accomplishments and refinement, Joel was very approachable and was always the first to give credit to those around him.

Though Joel had many passions in his life, none was more developed than his passion for Kansas University athletics. Whether it was witnessing Mario’s Miracle, cheering on the women’s basketball team, screaming at the top of his baritone voice during the Todd Reising Hail Mary pass to Kerry Meier or piloting his favorite Jayhawk toy – his boat “Phog On The Water.” Joel and Andrea were avid fans – arguably the loudest in Allen Fieldhouse. Joel was a lover of language and often shared this love and his eloquent writing with the many fans on Phog.net and Jayhawk Illustrated. Joel and Andrea traveled with the men’s basketball team to Maui in November 2011 to cheer the team on to a near championship. This vacation was sadly the last of many that the two had enjoyed together. After suddenly becoming ill and battling for three long months, Joel’s fight ended with his beloved Andrea and his mother, Ruth, by his side. Joel will be missed by many family members and friends.

A Memorial Service celebrating Joel’s life will be held Monday, March 12, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64113. A reception will follow at the Church.

In lieu of flowers, Andrea requests that donations be made to either: Williams Educational Fund – General Scholarships Fund, c/o KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044-0928; or Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, Kansas City, MO 64137.

Condolences may be offered at www.McGilley-Frye.com