Meet The John Farrell Real Estate Company

Joel and his family have been Lake of the Ozarks residents since 1976 when they moved from Iowa to own and operate Three Seasons Resort near Osage Beach. 

Both Joel and his wife, Deanna, have music education degrees and taught in Iowa before moving to the Lake area.  After selling the resort, Deanna went on to teach elementary music in the Camdenton RIII School District, retiring after 20 years. 

Joel, on the other hand, tried his hand at a couple of jobs before he settled into a long-lasting career.  He started a painting business – something that he had done for several summers back in his days of teaching; four years later, he became the first general manager of Professional Management Group (PMG), managing condo projects and maintaining a rental program.  But, in April of 1986, Joel found the job that he would keep until his retirement – the Executive Director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB), a job he dearly loved.  He retired from that position at the end of June, 2006.

In the midst of all of this, at the urging of some of his friends, Joel made a successful run at becoming the Mayor of Osage Beach.  He served three terms as mayor, stepping down because of the increasing demands of his position with the CVB.  He has said that the years he served as mayor were some of the most rewarding and most challenging he has ever spent.  It was during this time, that the central sewer system was installed, Wal-Mart, Stonecrest Mall and Factory Outlet Mall (now, Osage Premium Outlets) came in, the first of the two new bridges over the Glaize arm was built, Highway 54 was expanded from two lanes to three (now five) and the concept of the Highway 54 expressway was first introduced to the public.

Music has always been at the center of the Pottinger family’s life.  Joel and Deanna met at Central Missouri State College (now, Central Missouri State University) where both were majoring in music.  Following their teaching careers in Iowa and their move to Missouri, both have been active in a variety of music rolls at Harper Chapel United Methodist Church in Osage Beach.  Over two different intervals, Joel served a total of 15 years as church choir director.  He stepped down from that position when he retired from the CVB.  

Kids and grandkids top the list of priorities for Joel and Deanna today.  Their children, Laura and Jeff are both graduates of Camdenton High School.  Laura is a graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in elementary education.  Her husband, Scott, is a minister of music.  They have four boys.  Jeff is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University with a degree in music.  He and his wife, Kathleen, teach music in St. Louis.  They have a daughter and two boys.  (As you can see, the music theme has carried on to the next generation.)

Joel is excited about being a member of the John Farrell Real Estate Family.  (Lynn likes to call it a “Family” rather than a Team.)  He has known John and Lynn for over thirty years.  He said, “John served on my board of directors for a number of years, ending his tenure as president and then chairman of the board.  His and Lynn’s integrity and work ethic are the qualities that made me ask if I could join them.  I’m proud to be associated with them and look forward to a whole new career in promoting the Lake of the Ozarks through helping people find their own “Piece of Paradise.”

You can reach Joel through the office or by calling his cell phone at 573.280.2377.