Life after Teddy died

Ann Coggins knows she could travel. But it wouldn’t be the same without Teddy.

The Modern Woodmen member from Overland Park, Kan., and her late husband loved to take road trips. They especially enjoyed visiting lighthouses around the Great Lakes.

“It’s hard to realize Teddy’s gone,” Ann says of her high school sweetheart and husband of 46 years.

Since Teddy died in February 2008, Ann has been coping with life without her best friend.

She’s relied on her Modern Woodmen family. They became a surprising, yet important, part of her life after Teddy’s death.

Meeting Janice and Steve

A couple weeks after her husband died, Ann contacted Modern Woodmen to claim his life insurance proceeds. Teddy had cancer and had been ill for months. He prepared her for steps she would have to take after his death.

Ann anticipated cold instructions to send in a death certificate. Instead, she received a phone call from local Modern Woodmen representative Janice Witt.

“My life as a widow changed in so many ways from that day on,” says Ann.

Janice came to Ann’s house to help her through the claim process. It was like a member of her own family just walked in the door. Everything was going to be OK. She didn’t need to worry.

Janice met with Ann again about a week and a half later. This time Janice brought her manager, Steve Bradley, with her. At the time a fairly new representative, Janice wanted to be sure Ann received the best possible help.

“I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what they were going to try to talk me into,” Ann remembers. It only took a few moments to realize another member of her family had walked into her house.

Steve and Janice helped Ann decide what to do with the life insurance proceeds. To her relief, they also offered assistance with the 401(k) Teddy had through his work.

“I felt like my family was taking care of me," Ann says of Modern Woodmen. "When I die, I feel confident they will make sure my children receive the very kind attention they continue to give me.”

In the past months, Ann has developed a strong friendship with Janice. “She’s like a sister,” says Ann. “I can call her and cry on her shoulder or get some good advice.”

She’s grateful for the thoughts, prayers and hugs of her loved ones. And she’s thankful for Modern Woodmen for offering her much more than financial advice.

Life after the flood

In June 2008, the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, crested at 31.12 feet. That beats the all-time record set in 1851 by over 11 feet.

The day before the flood hit, Modern Woodmen representative Paul Kiecksee took his family to Orlando. It was the worst vacation of his life.

“I was watching CNN the whole time,” says Paul, who lives in nearby Swisher, Iowa.

When he returned home, Paul drove to the home of a friend who had been interviewed on the news.

“It looked like a bomb hit,” says Paul. “People had their entire lives sitting out on the curb.”

Members to the rescue

2008 was a year filled with devastating natural disasters. From floods and tornadoes throughout the Midwest to hurricanes in the Gulf region, countless lives were impacted.

In response, Modern Woodmen encouraged camps and youth clubs in affected areas to lend a hand. Members held special fundraisers for individuals and community organizations in need. Modern Woodmen matched the money raised up to $2,500 for camps and $500 for clubs.

As of October, over $50,000 went back into affected communities thanks to these natural disaster relief efforts.