Joseph "Jody" Edward Victor, Jr., 78, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ surrounded by his family on December 17, 2025 at his home in Jackson Township, Ohio after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Born on September 16, 1947 in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, Jody was the oldest son of Joseph and Helyne Victor. He attended THE Ohio State University and served in the Ohio National Guard.  He met his beloved wife, Kathy, through the Amway business. They married in May 1981 and built an extraordinary life together centered around faith, family, service, and the empowerment of others.

Jody was born into a pioneering Amway family with a deep legacy of entrepreneurship. From an early age, he absorbed the values of integrity, mentorship, and service that would shape the remarkable life he lived.  Jody became the first second-generation Crown in the Amway business, setting records that may never be matched.  His impact extends across continents, touching millions of lives through the global reach of the business he and Kathy built together.

Over the course of his career, Jody became known not only for his sharp business acumen but for his rare ability to distill complex concepts into simple, empowering lessons. This talent led to the creation of MarkerMan Productions (MMP), which he co-founded with Kathy, to provide leadership and personal development training to IBOs around the world. The name "MarkerMan" stemmed from his trademark style of teaching with nothing more than a marker, a whiteboard, a big Dream, and a profound understanding of people.

Jody Victor was a cornerstone of the Independent Business Owners Association International (IBOAI) and a guiding voice within the Amway business community for more than four decades.  He played a critical role in protecting, shaping, and elevating the independent business model. His 40 years of service on the IBOAI Board included roles as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Governance & Oversight Committee Chairman, Legal & Ethics Committee Chairman, Hearing & Disputes Committee Chairman, and Curator of the Board. As the IBOAI historian, he preserved essential knowledge about its founding principles and helping new entrepreneurs understand the legacy they inherited. His work ensured that Independent Business Owners everywhere would have a principled, united voice for generations to come.

Beyond business, Jody's heart for service was profound. He served on the U.S. Dream Academy Board of Directors for more than 20 years, devoting himself to supporting children of incarcerated parents. He often said "kids are my kryptonite," and he demonstrated it by doing anything in his power to encourage them.

In the 1980's, Jody "threw" his support behind the Manchester A's baseball team.  The "field of dreams" became a reality when he financed the construction of Crown Field that helped the Manchester A's bring a new level of excellence in the Manchester and Summit County area. Jody's support to the community landed him in the Greater Akron Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.

He also served on the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association of Stark County and supported numerous philanthropic efforts—both large and small—with humility and generosity.

Jody loved being with his family on Sandusky Bay driving the boats and racing Sea Doo's.  He always had a need for speed with his exotic sports cars.  Playing games around the table with his family and laughing brought Jody great joy. Jody was a passionate Ohio State Buckeye fan who loved beating that team up north. He would always tell his family to give your problems to God because He has bigger shoulders and He is up all night anyway.

We wish to acknowledge all the wonderful and loving care given to Jody by his special caregiver, Caprice (CJ), over the past couple of years; as well as all of the loving care by his three children and their spouses.

Jody was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Helyne Victor; his sister, Linda Sue and his brother, Ron.

Jody's greatest joy in life was his family. He loved his three children Steve, Terri Sue, and Joe along with their spouses (Marcia, Greg & Kelli) with boundless love. That love extended to his six grandchildren who brought him endless pride and joy.  He is survived by his devoted wife, Kathy, of 44 years; his children Steve (Marcia) Victor of Jackson Township, Ohio; Terri Sue (Greg) Fraumann of Tuslaw, Ohio; and Joe (Kelli) Victor of Jackson Township, Ohio; and his six grandchildren - Kayla (Dominic), Cody, Victoria, Sofia, Roxi, and Joey.

A private family service will be held at Lakeview Christian Church in Green, Ohio. A celebration of life will be held on January 12th at 2pm at RiverTree Jackson Church located at 7373 Portage Street NW, Massillon, OH 44646 (Jackson Twp) with a dinner to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to the U.S. Dream Academy in care of MarkerNET, Inc., 4092 Holiday St NW, Canton, OH 44718 or donate online (www.usdreamacademy.org).

U.S. Dream Academy C/O MarkerNET Inc.
4092 Holiday St NW, Canton OH 44718
Web: http://www.usdreamacademy.org