Meyer "Mike" Katzman, 103, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on April 4.
Mike was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on July 20, 1920. He was the son of Samuel and Sadie (Goldstein) Katzman. As a young man, Mike learned to box at the local YMCA. He became very proficient and eventually exceeded at a high level, winning a silver medal in the National Golden Gloves Tournament. Of his 100 boxing bouts, he only lost six.
He met and married the love of his life, Henrietta "Henny" Nudleman, in St. Louis. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces in 1942 (a predecessor of the U.S. Air Force) during World War II. Katzman worked mounting gun turrets at the Air Force base in Harlingen, Texas. He also spent time at Air Force bases in Utah and Florida.
Two decades after his military service, Katzman started a manufacturers’ representative company called Katzman Grossman and Associates. He retired from the company in 1990.
After the passing of his wife, Henny, Mike made it his mission to fight for veterans and their rights. He served as the Commander for Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Henrietta "Henny"; sister, Dora Deutch; brother, Sol Katzman; and son-in-law Art Katz.
Mike is survived by his daughter, Salli Katz; son, Mark Katzman; grandchildren, Stephanie Abramson and husband, JD Higgason, Sam Abramson and Sabrina Katzman; great-granddaughter, Hallie Higgason; and his extended family that he loved so much.
He was a hero to the family, a source of family pride, their dad, father-in-law and Papa Mike.
A funeral service for Mike was held on April 7 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors were at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Jewish War Veterans MO-KAN Post 605 - c/o Scott Bronston (8003 Gillette Street, Lenexa, KS 66215).