Gloria Lee Mallin Planzer died peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Morningside Place in Overland Park, Kansas.
A funeral service was held Thursday, Jan. 27, at Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery.
For 83 years, Gloria was surrounded by family and friends who loved and cherished her. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Betty and Julius Mallin. Growing up, she learned to play the piano and cello and became a lover of classical and jazz music. She was a member of the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority and graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She loved art and worked the information desk at the Nelson Atkins Museum, guiding people to see different pieces of art.
Gloria leaves behind Neil, her husband of 15½ years, who loved, cared for, and nurtured her during her long illness of Alzheimer’s. He was a wonderful partner and never left her side. She is predeceased in death by her parents, Julius and Betty Mallin; brothers Sanford and Richard Mallin; and son-in-law, Ronald Engelmohr. Survivors include her loving children, Elana Mallin Engelmohr and Joshua Shaftel; sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Daniel Kohn; and stepchildren, Stephen Planzer and Lauren Fixman.
She will be deeply missed by her husband, children, sister, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and her extended family and friends. The family wishes to thank Morningside Place for their kindness and compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gloria’s name may be made to the choir fund at Kehilath Israel Synagogue. Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
