Joe Ann "Joe" Levine Kratchman Obituary (1936 - 2020)

Joe Ann “Joe” Levine Kratchman, 84, of Overland Park, KS passed away peacefully on April 18, 2020. A private family service will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Joe was born April 11, 1936 in Kansas City, MO to the late Gertrud G and Sidney Berkowitz. She was a life-long resident of the area, graduating from Southwest High School and later attending the University of Michigan. Joe never strove to pave the road of life for her children, only to offer them a roadmap marked with ideals and virtues. Her greatest pride was their personal and professional success in life. Her passion was people, she knew very few strangers. Joe remained actively involved in her good friends’ lives from day camp and her camp in Wisconsin, from grade school and high school and college. She was an active force in organizing reunions for the Southwest Class of 1954; while raised in an era of volunteerism, she chose to work at KU Medical Center for 32 years and the friends she made there remained just that, her friends and her support. She spent hours reading, she loved her Study Group and her bridge groups; she was involved in the community through numerous organizations and a life-long membership at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah. And with her Arnie, her friend, her love, her bashert- her meant to be- her life was good. Joe was loved by all who knew her and Arnie loved her with all his heart. And now, his heart is broken. In addition to her parents, Joe was preceded in death by her sister, Dee Dee Dale and her husband, Ed Levine. She is survived by her loving husband, Arnie; children: Terry Levine (Julie) of Leawood, Marcie Meyer (Michael) of Omaha; Robyn Schwartz (Ron) of Chicago; step-children: Jeff Kratchman of Mesa, Jill Roberts (Mike) of Grandview, Jamie Himpel (James) of New York; grandchildren: Adam (Amanda), Samantha and Elliot Levine, Steven and Rachel (Andy) Meyer, Evi, Noa, Mati and Shai Schwartz, Mackenzie (Stefan) Miller, Phil (Phoebe) Roberts, Brady and Reiley Himpel and two great-grandchildren: Cora Miller and Olivia Levine.