Joseph S. Van Dolah PPR, 33°
Dec 12, 1941 - May 28, 2024
A Visitation for Joe will take place from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Friday, June 7 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO. A Celebration of Joe’s Life will follow at 2:00pm. A Royal Order of Jesters Court 54 Rose Ceremony will follow. Private inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 4400 Clayton Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110.
Joe was born December 12, 1941 less than week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Joe graduated from East High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1959. He received an appointment to West Point Military Academy but one week before his high school graduation his father passed away totally changing his life. Joe decided not to attend West Point so he could stay at home to take care of his mother.
Hallmark executives visited the family to give their respects to his father. During their visit they offered Joe a job, which he accepted. Joe had always had a passion for photography. After receiving a Sears dark room outfit on his eighth birthday he fell in love with photography. The Human Resource Department was impressed with Joe's enthusiasm and love for photography and placed him in the Photography Department. Later he became Chief Photographer over the entire department.
While employed at Hallmark Cards Joe enlisted in the Army Reserves serving in the Signal Core at Fort Gordon, Georgia and returned to his position at Hallmark. Hallmark Cards sent Joe to Winona School of Photography located in Winona, Indiana where he received his Master's Degree in Photography. Joe had hundreds of greeting cards published and his work was published in several books. One of the most famous books featuring Joe's photography was Walden Pond by Henry David Thoreau, which went on to become one of Hallmark's best sellers. Joe's most memorable work at Hallmark was the Misty Love Cards He assisted in the development of the technique. It became one of the most successful greeting card lines Hallmark ever had.
Joe joined the Professional Photographers of America and received his Masters of Photography Degree and his Photographic Craftsman Degree which are the highest degrees a professional photographer can receive. Joe went on to become president of the American Society of Photographers which is the International Professional Photographers' Association made up of only Masters and Photographic Craftsmen. This is comprised of the top photographers in the Country. He received the National Award going to the most outstanding photographer in the United States. This is the highest honor a photographer can receive from his peers. Only one per year nationally is given. Joe has appeared as a national speaker and national print judge in almost every state in the United States and Canada. Joe is one of the highest decorated commercial photographers in Missouri's history winning more awards for his work than any other photographer. Joe holds the distinction of the only or one of the only commercial photographers in Missouri to receive a perfect score in print competition. All the judges scored his color print of a white on white a perfect score of 100. Joe also holds the distinction of the only photographer in Missouri history of retiring the Stafford Traveling Trophy Awarded to a Master of Photography for the highest total score for three years running for the accumulated score for all four prints allowed in competition per year. Joe owned and operated the The Illustrators, Inc. for 33 years becoming one of the most successful catalog houses in the United States. The Illustrators was one of the few full-service catalog houses offering design, photography, color separations and printing. Some of his national clients were Cessna Aircraft, Cabela's, Bass Pro, US Apron, Stanbury Band Uniforms, The Jones Store, Macy's Apparel, Dunbrooke Jackets, Swingster Apparel and many others. Joe has photographed many dignitaries and celebrities including Winston Churchill, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, George Brett, Barbara Mandrell, Andy Williams, Glen Campbell, Joyce C. Hall. Joe worked in marketing and public relations in Branson Missouri for the Branson Inn, Glen Campbell Theatre, and Will Rogers Theatre and was fortunate to work with Glen Campbell, Mel Tillis, Andy Williams, Barbara Mandrell, and Shoji Tabuchi. Later in life Joe owned and operated the Parkway Liquor Store located in Overland Park, Kansas for 12 years before retiring.
Joe is survived by his wife Terrie Van Dolah, sons Joseph S. Van Dolah Jr., Rick Van Dolah (Gina) and Dr. Dustin K. Van Dolah (Carrie), seven grandchildren & three great-grandchildren.
- Joe was raised a 3 degree Mason on August 10, 1967 at the Temple/Gate City Lodge and later became the Worshipful Master in 1976.
- Joined the Scottish Rite in October of 1967, became the Venerable Master in 1977 eventually getting his 33rd degree in November of 1983.
- Served on the board of the Scottish Rite Foundation, Demolay Legion of Honor Member and joined the Ararat Shrine in 1967, was President of Ararat Clowns in 1970, spent 25 years working in the hospital transportation group and was awarded his 50-year member pin.
- He was the Past Director of the Royal Order of Jesters in 2010 & 2012.
- In 1984, Joe was the Founder of the First Aphasia-Speech and Hearing Clinic in the State of Missouri.
- He traveled all over the State seeking support for this endeavor.
- At the request of Joe, the personal representative of Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht flew to Kansas City and offered Kansas City matching funds of $20,000 which Joe accepted and the clinic was started with the assistance of Children's Mercy Hospital. An entire wing of the hospital was built just for the Speech and Hearing Clinic and Joe' dream of a clinic became a reality.
- In 2009, Joe received a 25 year award from Children's Mercy Hospital during the 25 anniversary of the Speech and Hearing Clinic.
- Joe created the Kansas City Life Membership Program to support the clinic where Joe's Life Membership is #1
- In 2010 and 2018 Joe received the Double Eagle Orient Award for Service, Inspiration, Commitment and Honor for Decades of service from the Valley of Kansas City.