Irene Sylvia Gulko Fehr died on March 19 in her apartment at Village Shalom, surrounded by family.
Services were held on March 23 at Louis Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Jewish Vocational Service, American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
Known throughout her life as “Dolly,” Irene was born on July 21, 1926, in Kansas City, to David and Malka Gulko. In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917, David and Malka left the town of Chudnov, Ukraine. Several years later, they arrived in the U.S. and found their way to Kansas City, where other relatives had already settled.
Family legend has it that Irene was given her lifelong nickname by her first cousin, who was less than a year older, and also named Irene. “This is my Dolly,” she said about her baby cousin, and the nickname has stuck for almost a century.
Dolly graduated from Paseo High School in Kansas City and then attended the University of Missouri, where she met the handsome, returning WWII aviator Lou Fehr, who was the brother of her sorority sister, Sylvia Fehr. Lou and Dolly were married in 1947, and after a few years in Marion, Indiana (Lou’s hometown), moved to and raised their three sons in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Dolly worked with Lou at his business, a restaurant supply company known as Fehr Hotel Supply, Inc. After staying at home for a few years to raise her sons, she worked as manager/owner of The Glass and China House in Corinth Square with her sister-in-law Sylvia. And later, after her children were grown, Dolly embarked on a successful career as a real estate agent.
She was a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah for about 70 years, and a part of its Sisterhood. Dolly also was a lifelong member of Hadassah, B’nai B’rith Women and supporter of Jewish Federation. And, not least of all, a Cub Scout Den Leader.
Dolly was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, Louis A. Fehr; and her sister, Frances “Billie” Farber.
Dolly is survived by her sister-in-law, Sylvia Fehr Soule; her sons: Donald (Stephanie Feldman) of Rye Brook, New York; Steven (Cynthia Wendt) of Leawood, Kansas; and Jerry (Lori Gilgus-Fehr) of Kansas City, Missouri; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren: David Fehr (Katherine) and their children Naomi and Nicola Fehr, of Chicago, Illinois; Mark Fehr (Tuba Sural) and their children Lydia and Riley Fehr of Bethesda, Maryland; Rachel Fehr Mankiewicz (Chris Mankiewicz) and their son Ryan Fehr of Portland, Oregon; Elyse Fehr of Rye Brook; Alex Fehr of Overland Park, Kansas; Caroline Fehr (Andrew Bort) of Washington, D.C.; Tom Fehr of Overland Park; Allison Fehr (Patrick McDonald) and their children Arabella, Judah, Juniper and Primrose McDonald of Bray, Ireland; Danielle Fehr and her children Crosby and Calvin Lester of Leawood; and Hannah Gilgus of Overland Park. Dolly also leaves behind a large loving family of nieces, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
The family wishes to thank those who cared for Dolly at Village Shalom the last three years.
Condolences can be left online at louismemorialchapel.com.