Natalie Arlene Dubin Nearenberg, 82, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. A graveside service was held Thursday, Sept. 19, at Sheffield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Natalie M. Foundation.
Natalie was the owner of Natalie M., a successful bridal, prom and pageant shop in Overland Park. Natalie attended Quindaro and then Mark Twain elementary schools. Natalie was a proud graduate of Wyandotte High School. She was a freshman class officer and a member of the Student Council all four years. Natalie was a member of Thespians and acted in school theatre productions throughout high school. She also enjoyed being a cheerleader for her Wyandotte Bulldogs. Natalie graduated in 1955. She never forgot her Kansas City, Kansas, public school education. In 2009, Natalie received the Reasons to Believe Alumni Honor Roll in recognition from the Kansas City Kansas Public School District. For a number of years a banner in her honor was displayed in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, adjacent to the Kansas City Kansas Fire Department headquarters.
Natalie attended the University of Colorado where she was a member of Sigma Delta Tau. She graduated in 1959 from the University of Kansas City (now UMKC) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. She undertook additional graduate coursework in social work at UMKC. Natalie taught in the Kansas City Kansas School District at Welborn and Eugene Ware schools from 1959 until1961.
In 1961, Natalie accepted a position at the Jewish Community Center. She ran the tween program in which over 1,000 young adolescents participated. Her co-worker Dave Belzer introduced her to her future husband, Martin Nearenberg. It was love at first sight, and Martin and Natalie were engaged after just three dates; they married Feb. 17, 1963. Martin and Natalie were former members of Congregation Ohev Sholom, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, Shir Chadash and later back at Ohev Sholom and then Kehilath Israel. Natalie was active in the Ohev Sholom Couples Club, a member of its Sisterhood and was co-chair of their Israel Bonds Dinner. She served as a Sunday school teacher at The Congregation, Temple B’nai Jehudah, Ohev Sholom and also Kehilath Israel. Natalie served as a Blue Bird leader, room mother, PTO teacher and tutor. Natalie was also involved in political campaigns, including Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign.
In 1973 Natalie and Martin formed a family business, originally named Fashions at Large. The business flourished, finally settling in south Overland Park. Martin passed away in 1999 and Natalie continued to carry on the tradition of dressing the women of Kansas City. The business eventually evolved into Natalie M., the “M” being in honor of her beloved husband.
Natalie had a true love of fashion and helped to bring many top designers to the area. She believed that women of every shape and size deserved to feel beautiful for every special occasion. She also believed in giving back to her community. Natalie did just that on a personal level and through the family business. Her love of education and her desire to empower young women led to the development of the Natalie M. Foundation in 2004. The Foundation produced the annual Natalie M. Foundation Benefit Fashion Show providing a fundraising vehicle for metro schools. Her vision has resulted in thousands of young men and women earning community service hours, developing confidence and raising funds for their school. To date, over a half of million dollars has been raised for education and dozens of deserving students have received scholarships for college. The Foundation was recently named a certifying organization for the Presidential Service Award and will continue to encourage service and celebrate education in Natalie’s honor.
Natalie was preceded in death by her parents Herman Dubin and Lillian Abrams Dubin Kraitchman, stepfather Carl Kraitchman, her sisters Sandra Birnbaum and Phyllis Wainstock and her beloved husband Martin.
Natalie loved ice cream, Neil Diamond, “girl power” and meeting new people. Most of all she loved her family including her son Steven Nearenberg and daughter Myra Nearenberg of Overland Park, and grandchildren Joshua Jagoda of Chicago, Illinois, and Jillian Jagoda of Austin, Texas. Natalie has left a legacy that her family and friends will cherish.