After high school, Joe graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in finance. He worked in the banking business for several years. Joe most recently was an information tech for the Salvation Army, KCMO. He was a very enthusiastic SFTARC member, but because of his love of Amateur Radio and people, he was active in nearly every Amateur Radio organization and activity in the area: He was President of the Jahawk Amateur Radio Society, President and founding member of The Olathe Ensor Foundation, on the Board of Directors for MO-Kan Council, and a key member of WW1USA. For Wyndott County, KS, he was: RACES Chief Radio Officer, ARES EC, and SATERN Coordinator. Joe enthusiastically provided equipment when there was a young ham wanting to get on the air and for POTA operations. It is easy to see why Joe was so universally well liked and was awarded the much-deserved "Kansas Amateur of the Year Award in 2013.