Jack Moberly

James "Jack" Arthur Moberly, age 93 years, of Jefferson City, Missouri, died Sunday, December 3, 2023, at his home, with his daughters at his side.
Born December 30, 1929, in Columbus, Kansas, to Opal Joetta (Hopkins) and Glenwood Moberly, he lived most of his adult life in Jefferson City. There, he was truly a "jack-of-most-trades," at least the important ones-dedicated husband, father, grandfather, professional engineer, jokester, and lover of ice cream.
Jack grew up playing baseball and helping out at his parents' creamery. He graduated from Mammoth Springs, Arkansas, High School in 1947 and served in the Army 1951–53 as a corporal in the 504th Ordnance Co (HAM/Heavy Automotive Maintenance), 38th Ord. Battalion, Nellingen, Germany. He served proudly and used his leave time creatively-skiing in Garmisch, cruising the Rhine on Hitler's old yacht (yes, that Hitler), and road-tripping to France and Holland in a restored jalopy were only a few of his escapades.
The GI Bill took him to the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1957. On trips back home to Thayer, Missouri, he courted his future wife of 60 years, Virginia "Ginny" Rolen, and they married in 1956. After a short stint for an oil company in Louisiana, Jack's career as a P.E. took them back to Missouri, where he designed and inspected bridges for the Missouri Highway Department (now part of the Missouri Department of Transportation). In fact, travelers can still see his handiwork in such projects as the "Twin Bridges" along Highway 54 on their way to "The Lake" from "Jeff City." Jack's work was well respected, and he served on a U.S. team of inspectors on a three-month tour that crossed the bridges and sands of Saudi Arabia in 1978. His 35 years of dedication abroad and within his beloved Missouri earned him numerous federal, state, and professional awards recognizing his service; ingenuity; and presidential leadership of local, state, and national engineering and ToastMaster associations. (He also was a "Cracker Jack" at sniffing out any donuts in the Highway building!)
Upon retirement, Jack amped up his time on the links and on the go. He and Ginny joined a People-to-People diplomatic team to China-Jack to visit civil engineering projects and Ginny to visit schools-both to walk the Great Wall of China. With Ginny, he migrated seasonally, spending winters golfing and eating strawberry shortcakes at Parkesdale's Market in Plant City, Florida, and spending summers in Missouri, well, golfing, but also having great fun with their kids and grandkids. Somehow, they also squeezed in a trip to Switzerland, adding new destinations to their earlier travels in Italy, France, and England. Back home, Jack devoted time to woodworking, tending his immaculate lawn, and volunteering for MATHCOUNTS and Habitat for Humanity.
No matter where he was, Jack followed his Chiefs, Cardinals, and his Missouri Tigers, ready with an M-I-Z at a moment's notice or a quick "You got it!" for his kids or grandkids playing on any field. His other loves included photographing bridges, lap swimming (including his first swim meet and gold medal at age 70), eating Central Dairy ice cream and Midnight Milky Ways.
Throughout his life he kept his sweet tooth and a positive outlook. Kids and animals were drawn to him. Adults, too! Despite-or because of-his dry, corny "Moberly humor," he also kept his charisma and charm, sparking smiles on the faces of staff and residents in his assisted living facility in later years. To know Jack was to love him.
Left to cherish his memory are his two daughters, Julie and her husband Steve Velotas of Norfolk, Va., and Jana and her husband Ken Forck of Taos, Mo.; his grandchildren, Jeremy and Madison Forck of Taos, and Jaclyn and Meghan Velotas of Norfolk; and more than 100 nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginny; son, Joe Michael; brother, George Everett; and his parents. All will miss his humor, bear hugs, unfailing love and integrity, and model of a life well lived.
Visitation will be at Freeman Mortuary from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Saturday, December 9, 2023, with a time of sharing memories and stories beginning at 12:00 p.m., in the Freeman Chapel.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the River City Habitat for Humanity, 1420 Creek Trail Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109, or the University of Missouri Engineering General Scholarship Fund, 407 Reynolds Alumni Center, Columbia, MO 65211.
Funeral arrangements are under the care of Freeman Mortuary, 915 Madison St, Jefferson City, MO 65101.