Ira Stein of Leawood, died Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, at his residence.
He was born Sept. 20, 1921, and was a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area, as were his parents, William B. and Mary (Snitz) Stein.
Ira is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Patricia Gardner Stein; sons, John H. Stein (Elizabeth Warner) of Jamaica Plain, Mass., Richard M. Stein (Mary Howe) of Lawrence, Kan.; brother, Larry Stein (Floralou) of Scottsdale, Ariz.; grandchildren, William H. Stein of Lawrence, and Sarenna and Hannah Stein of Jamaica Plain; great-grandchildren, Kai and Elyas Rosario of Jamaica Plain; brother-in-law, Larry Hardy, Overland Park; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ira served overseas as a radio operator in the U.S. Air Corps from 1942 until the end of World War II. Late in life he reacquainted himself with radio and established his own amateur radio station with the call letters K0IRA, making contacts with more than 100 countries, using International Morse Code. He enjoyed participating in sports and played a quite decent game of tennis, table tennis and 4-wall handball.
Pat and Ira enjoyed trips to Europe and the Greek Islands, the Caribbean Islands, Brazil and Mexico — and brief stops in Israel, Egypt and Turkey.
A reception in Ira’s memory will be held from 8-10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Gaslight Grill. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to . The family suggests that contributions be sent to Temple Israel, 5311 W. 75th Street, Prairie Village, KS 66208; the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE), 5801 W. 115th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211; or Harvesters, The Community Food Network, 3801 Topping Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64129.
Online condolences may be shared at www.louismemorialchapel.com.
Arr: The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.