Meet Our Customers

Meet Jack Koontz

Members of: Lodge 323 in Mocksville

Family members: Wife, Kay Frances Koontz

Woodmen of the World products: Universal Life Insurance

Members since:1979

Woodmen of the World Representative: Jeffrey Pardue

Major life moments: Koontz has dedicated a half-century of his life to public service. In 1961, he joined the North Carolina Army National Guard and continued to serve until his retirement in 1987 as a Platoon Sergeant. During his time with the Guard, Koontz joined the United States Postal Service and served for 39 years, eventually retiring as a level 18 Postmaster.

Koontz is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Yadkin Valley Economic Development District (YVEDDI), a non-profit organization working for low-income community members, migrants and senior citizens. The YVEDDI also helps support Meals on Wheels, various retired senior volunteer programs, rural transportation programs, domestic violence survivors, the weatherization of homes for needy senior citizens, day care centers for migrant workers' children, and senior centers across four counties. For his continuing efforts, a local Head Start building was named after him: the Jack G. Koontz Head Start Center.

What is one of your most meaningful Woodmen of the World experiences? Koontz has served as President of Lodge 323 in Mocksville; was the North Carolina Jurisdictional President from 1997-99; served on the National Fraternal Committee in 2009 and 2010; and spent many years serving on the Board of the R.C. Cliff Payne Youth Camp.

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Meet the Alfaro Family

Members of: Lodge 3668 in Orange Grove, TX

Family members:
Dad – Merced
Mom – Elizabeth
Daughter – Melody, 15
Daughter – Leah, 19
Daughter – Lily, 23

Woodmen of the World products: Family Term, Universal Life

Members since: 2010

Woodmen of the World Representative: Minerva Gutierrez (TX SW)

Major life moments: Three years ago on Christmas Eve, Elizabeth and Merced were driving to Corpus Christi to buy a bike for their youngest daughter. Elizabeth was driving and suddenly the truck slid. A minute later it flipped, rolled over and hit a sign. The couple was taken to the hospital, and after the shock wore off and they were OK, they realized they could have both died.

The accident made them ask the questions, "What if there wasn't life insurance or money for our girls? What would they do?" The couple didn't want to put their family through that.

What is one of your most meaningful Woodmen of the World experiences? With Woodmen of the World, they want to be like a family to you. They always say they're here to help. They want to be more than just an insurance company to their members.

Meet Cy Wakeman

A sought-after speaker and consultant, Cy Wakeman has been sharing her Reality-Based Leadership philosophy with organizations around the world for more than two decades. She is the author of two books, Reality-Based Leadership and The Reality-Based Rules of the Workplace, and her ideas have been featured in a variety of national and international publications.

Member of: Lodge 649 in Ute, Iowa

Family members:
Mom – Cy
Son – George, 21
Son – Charles, 17
Son – Henry, 14
Son – Will, 13

Woodmen of the World products: Term Life, Universal Life, Annuities

Members since: 2005

Woodmen of the World Representative: Jeff Bridges

Major life moments: There have been tons of moments, both happy and sad.  As a mom, having sons in my life is such a gift. I get overwhelmed with gratitude at how amazing they are. I absolutely love seeing them compete in sporting events, and watching my oldest son win a state championship in football was absolutely incredible.

Saying goodbye to my parents, Mom in 2005 and Dad in 2012, were difficult times, but made me realize how incredibly important the love of a parent can be in a child's life.

What is one of your most meaningful Woodmen of the World experiences? It is hard to choose a single meaningful moment at Woodmen of the World - watching a department support and rally around their team members in those tough life moments, the many fundraising events, and watching the team respond to disasters such as the Missouri Valley (IA) flooding – are just a few that come to mind.