Joseph M. Reichert, 84, of Belleville IL, born July 18, 1940, in Freeburg, IL, as the youngest child of Elmer W. and Rose, nee Schauerte, Reichert, passed into infinity Friday, June 27, 2025, at the stroke of midnight in Belleville, IL.
In Joe's youth, he enjoyed life and people. He was a member of the Jaycees in their hay-day and involved in many community projects. He was also a long-time member of the BPOE (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks), now known as the Elks Lodge #0481, a great organization that helped others as well as provided a great time for tennis, golf, and swimming.
After college at SIU and SIUE he spent much of his career as an executive in Health Insurance management with General American Life, Blue Cross-Shield in Illinois and Montana, and was Executive Vice President with MetLife in Kansas City. But he was on a constant search for more and took many adventurous turns through the great adventure of life. He was always drawn to the road less traveled. This played out in both career and in his passions. He was a fierce advocate of conservation and wildlife, and an avid nature photographer.
Joe’s greatest passion was driving. In his youth, he dreamed of a professional racing career; much to the chagrin of the Freeburg PD in the late 1950’s. After the corporate world, he also turned this passion into a business. Becoming interested in the courier business, he founded his own company JBJ Couriers in the early 1990’s and was the first in the St. Louis Metro area to innovate the use of cellular communications for dispatch and communication while competitors were all using radio dispatch at significantly more overhead cost. In later life, he and his trusty Jeep Cherokee were always in search of the next country road or trail in deep wilderness, the journey as equally important as the destination.
Joe thought his greatest achievement was being a father to his son, who in turn now raises his grandson. His advice to the generation of today is to never feel like life is wasted time. The wonder of life will play out in time.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Georgia (James) McCurdy; a brother, Elmer Reichert Jr; and a brother-in-law, Michael Meyer.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara S. Reichert, nee Meyer, whom he married in May 1962, and never faltered in their devotion to each other. He is also survived by a son, John (Beth) Reichert; a grandson, Jack; a sister-in-law, Sue Meyer; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Greg and Gail Carson; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) or The Nature Conservancy. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 3, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday July 3, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.
