Michael Lee Katz passed away on August 8, 2021, at Promise Skilled Nursing Facility in Overland Park. Born in June 1946 in Arnes, Iowa, Michael’s parents moved up to Kansas City when he was a child, where he attended Paseo High School before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri.
Michael enlisted into the Vietnam War where he served honorably before being discharged.
In 1972, he met his future wife Barbara Mae Ginden through Beth Shalom synagogue, and after their courtship, were married in 1975. The pair welcomed sons Joshua Scott in 1979 and Seth Jeremy in 1982.
Michael spent his entire career working for the federal government as an investigator with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, looking out for the rights of others. He retired in 2007 once his peripheral neuropathy made it too difficult to walk and drive.
He had a deep love of music, amassing a significant number of records that he played regularly throughout his home. Michael loved hunting for rare and hard to find albums, becoming friends with the owners of many locally owned record stores across the KC metro area.
Michael also enjoyed working out, rooting for his alma mater Missouri Tigers, television shows, such as Mystery Science Theater 3000, and Seinfeld and history. He was an avid reader of thriller and detective novels.
Though his later years were very difficult as he became more sick and lost more abilities, he was still able to participate in both his sons’ weddings, and be there to welcome and see his four grandchildren.
His family is incredibly grateful to the caring staff at the Promise Skilled Nursing Facility who took care of Michael over the last three years and where he called home. They were of great comfort to him and Barbara. The family also thanks Dr. Bill Ginsburg as well as the staff at Overland Park Regional Medical Center ICU where Michael was routinely cared for as he battled his many illnesses.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents Joe and Rebecca Katz. He is survived by his wife of 46 years Barbara, sons Joshua (Leslie) and Seth (Rachel), and grandchildren Theodore, Andrew, Ilanna and Ezra.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy.
