Harvey S. Bodker, beloved father, grandfather, husband and friend, passed away on Nov. 27, age 88, after a valiant fight with lung cancer.
Harvey will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, humor, compassion, thoughtfulness and eternal optimism.
Harvey’s love for his family was unparalleled, and he is survived by his children, Fred Bodker and his wife Cindy, and Betsy Bodker; grandchildren, Ilana, Mallory and Ellie Bodker; and partner, Sandy Moses.
He was born Oct. 16, 1935, to the late Sam and Freda Bodker, in Kansas City, Missouri, and was a lifelong Kansas City resident. He graduated from Southwest High School in 1953, receiving a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Kansas in 1957, and he was a proud lifelong Jayhawk.
Harvey served his country in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant after college.
He joined his father at Deluxe Cleaners, a chain which grew to 13 stores in the metro area. He married the late Beverly Bodker in 1963 and enjoyed 42 years together, raising a family, traveling to their favorite places, collecting art, attending a wide variety of performing arts events and sharing extensive community involvement. They cherished being each other’s most devoted fans, with both of them receiving numerous accolades from their nonprofit work. They were doting parents who never missed an event for their children and grandchildren.
Harvey was passionate about his family and lifelong friends, philanthropy, the Jewish community, the arts, and his career in commercial real estate. He served as president of Bodker Realty for over 50 years. He was appointed to the Kansas Real Estate Commission by two different governors, and he served on the Johnson County Board of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors and Kansas City, Missouri Board. He loved his work so much that he refused to retire and continued to work at his office until his final days.
Harvey was a champion of the community through his extensive involvement in countless organizations for which he was extraordinarily passionate. He was an active leader in Boy Scout Troop 61, earning his Eagle Scout rank and rising to the level of Chieftain in the tribe of Mic-O-Say of the Heart of America Council in 1997. He remained active on the troop, council, district and national levels, chairing a variety of committees and attending four national jamborees.
He was president of the Kappa Upsilon chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity at KU and continued his involvement with his chapter by serving as president of the House Corporation for 20 years. He later served on the National Board of AEPi. He served on the Congregation Beth Shalom Board of Directors for 20 consecutive terms before becoming a Life Board member. Harvey was a founding director of the Bank of Blue Valley and served on the board for 25 years. He served as vice chairman of the Overland Park Planning Commission, first president of the Overland Park 2000 Foundation, chairman of Overland Park Civil Service Commission, board member of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce, and first chairman of the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Harvey was a member of the ROMEOs and was known for bringing a prominent and diverse array of speakers.
Harvey became a board member of the Johnson County Community College Foundation in 1998 and was honored for his lifetime of community service, love of the arts and support of JCCC performing arts students with the Bodker Black Box Theatre in 2010. He has endowed scholarships at JCCC for performing arts, criminal justice and honor students. He had a profound love for music and performing arts. He enjoyed supporting the KC Symphony, Lyric Opera, KC Youth Symphony, KC Repertory Theater and KCPT.
In 2013, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum named the White House Decision Center for Harvey to recognize his support. He was an enthusiastic attendee of the “Wild About Harry” event each year, brought many guests to the museum for private tours, and loved attending speakers with book signings sponsored by the library. For the renovation of the library, he supported the Israel room, in which Truman’s recognition of Israel in 1948 was highlighted.
Harvey never met a stranger. He shared his love of his family with everyone from the waitress at Bravo to the person next to him on the Southwest flight to Denver, Colorado. He was the person who knew everyone in the room, and if he didn’t, he would by the end of the event.
Harvey leaves a beautiful legacy that will continue to be remembered by many in the community for years to come.
The family would like to thank KC Hospice for providing professionalism, comfort and compassion during these last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Beverly and Harvey Bodker Endowment Fund at Congregation Beth Shalom; Beverly’s Butterfly Garden at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead; any of Harvey’s favorite organizations or a charity of your choice.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 29 at Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
