John W. Tucker

John W. Tucker of Overland Park, KS, died on May 28, 2025. He was born in Decatur, Illinois, on October 10, 1926.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bettye Tucker; daughter, Karen and her husband Mark Supica of Birmingham, AL and his son, James Tucker of San Diego, CA; two grandchildren: Ruth Ann Turner (Brett) and John Supica (Emily); five great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Sophia, Anne Elliot, Claire and Margaret.

Mr. Tucker was a decorated World War II U.S. Navy deep-sea diver during the South Pacific Campaign. After his discharge, he attended James Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and then graduated from the University of Illinois in 1950 with a BS degree. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. After graduating, he was employed by the Aetna Casualty and Surety Company for their surety bond operations in several of their branch offices. In 1957, he joined Lane Contracting Corp., Casper, Wyoming, as Vice President, assisting in operations for various public construction projects for schools, colleges, and other public buildings in Wyoming, Nebraska, and Colorado. In 1961, he joined R.B. Jones Corp., Kansas City, as their surety bond manager. He was transferred to the R.B. Jones Wichita, KS office in 1965 to 1974. He then returned to Kansas City that year to become President and CEO of R.B. Jones Corp. During that time, he led the company in acquiring other insurance brokerage firms in FL, LA, MA, and TX. In 1975, the board of directors approved the formation of an ESOP, one of the first in Kansas City, for the employees of the company. In 1979, he led the R.B. Jones Corp merger with Alexander and Alexander Services, Inc. of New York, and had all employees to be 100% vested in the ESOP so all would benefit from the merger. He then became a Board member, Regional Director, and Sr. Vice President for Alexander and Alexander until early retirement in 1982.

John had a strong empathy for the working man and woman. He began his early business career by delivering morning newspapers, working for the Decatur sewage disposal plant, as a rod man for a local surveying crew and working his way through college driving a concrete ready-mix truck. He was a proud American, proud of our military, our country, and true patriot.

He was a former member of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, and served on the Board of Directors of R.B. Jones Corp and its various national R.B. Jones subsidiaries: R.B. Jones of Australia, R.B. Jones of Bermuda, and I.R.& B. Ltd. Of Hamilton, Bermuda. He also was on the Board of Directors of the Commerce Bank of Kansas City, Alexander & Alexander Services Inc, New York and the National Association of Casualty & Surety Agents.