Benjamin Korschot

Benjamin C. Korschot, 89 of Lee’s Summit, MO passed away, Monday July 12, 2010 at his residence. The Memorial service will be at 7:00 p.m., Thursday evening at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 6900 Ward Parkway Kansas City, MO 64113-2099. Visitation at the church will begin at 6:00 p.m. and precede the service time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. Ben was born on Morton Street in West Lafayette, Indiana on March 22, 1921. His parents were Benjamin Garrett Korschot and Myrtle Pearl Goodman Korschot who preceded him in death. Ben (“Cal”) married Marian Marie Schelle on October 31, 1941. Ben and Mary resided in the Lakewood community of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. His wife Mary died on May 9th 1988. Ben died of complications from heart disease and dementia. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. Ben was proud of his family and cared very much about his son, daughters, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc. Ben graduated from Klondike High School in West Lafayette, Indiana in 1938 and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1942 and an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1947. After graduation, he started his career with the Northern Trust Company in Chicago and was a Vice President of Investments. Ben joined the Navy in the officers training program at the outbreak of WWII after he graduated from Purdue University. He was a Lieutenant Commander and spent much of his time in the South Pacific. He also served in the Korean War. In 1964, he left the Northern Trust Company and joined the St. Louis Union Trust Company in St. Louis, Missouri as the Senior Vice President of Investments. Ben was President of the St. Louis Society of Financial Analysts in 1968. He was on the Board of Directors of Roosevelt Financial Group from 1968 to 1991 and was Vice Chairman from 1985 to 1986. In 1973, he moved to Kansas City to be the Chief Investment Officer for Waddell & Reed Company, a large mutual fund organization. He was promoted to President of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company and Chairman of the Board of Waddell & Reed Asset Management Company and retired in 1986. Ben was Chairman of the Board of the Financial Analysts Federation from 1978 to 1979. He was Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Investment Company Institute from 1980 to 1982. Ben was on the Board of Directors of the Helping Hand of Goodwill Industries from 1991 to 2004 and was Treasurer and Chairman of the Investment Committee. He was on the Board of Directors of the Missouri United Methodist Foundation from 1995 to 2004 and was Chairman of the Investment Committee. He authored an autobiography, A Lifetime of Investing published in 1997. He was a member of the Kansas City Society of Financial Analysts and the CFA Institute. As a founding member of the Glen Ellyn Kiwanis Club in 1954, he became President and later a member of the Downtown Kansas City Club. For 55 years he was actively involved with charitable causes for the Kiwanis Club. He belonged to St. John’s United Methodist Church and also attended Woods Chapel United Methodist Church. He was a past member of Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Indian Hills Country Club and Lakewood Oaks Golf Club. Ben was dedicated to helping various organizations and individuals financially. He funded the Ben Korschot Walk-On Student-Athlete Scholarship and Perseverance Award at Purdue University. Ben was listed often in Who’s Who in America and other publications. He is survived by his daughters: Barbara (“Bobbie”) Elaine Haehlen, Lynne Denise Gooding; son: John Calvin Korschot; son-in-laws: Jim Haehlen, Steve Gooding; grandchildren: Michelle Hunter, Julia Odom, Lee Gooding, Amy Brigg, Annette Gooding, Drew Korschot, CT Gooding, Calla Korschot, Ben Gooding, Mary Gooding; great grandchildren: Teegan Odom, CJ Miller; step-grandchildren: Heidi Haehlen, Suki Hanzel; and step-great grandchild: Megan Hanzel.