Isadore Sembler, 95, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Monday, July 31, 2023.
He had been lovingly cared for at his residence, Ann’s Choice (Erickson) Senior Living in Suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was born Feb. 10, 1928, in Kansas City, and lived there his entire life until relocating to Philadelphia at age 83 to be near his family. He had been a longtime member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Sembler worked at Harold Pener Menswear and affiliates for 45 years in store management and creatively designing interior/window displays; flying around the country until age 79 as the company expanded nationwide. He was himself an immaculate dresser who starched his own blue jeans. He was a perfectionist, known to comb the fringe of area rugs, to wash and wax his lawnmower and to finish his lawn with hand clippers. He will be remembered for his unique sense of humor and for his yo-yoing skills. He was a proud Marine who served post-World War II as a gunner on the U.S.S. Topeka.
Sembler was predeceased by his loving wife of 55 years, Beverly Cohen Sembler; their son, Jeffrey Howard Sembler; his parents Robert and Rose Weinstein Sembler; five siblings, Katie Kleinstein Tenenbaum, Al Slovak, Ben Slovak, Esther Cohen Johnson and his twin brother, Joe Sembler; and Bev’s parents, Betty and David Cohen.
He is survived by his son, Steven C. Sembler and his wife Georgann of Newtown, Pennsylvania; and daughter-in-law, Shaveen Sembler Fortner, of Springfield, Missouri. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Cariel (Whitney) Grove of Springfield; Jordan (Amber) Sembler of Bellingham, Washington; Daniel (Kristin) Sembler of Raleigh, North Carolina; and Dr. Brittany Sembler (Dr. Andrew Ernst) of York, Pennsylvania. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren, Peyton Grove, Jeffrey Grove, Benjamin Sembler, Emma Sembler and Shai Sembler.
A graveside service was held Friday, Aug. 4, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. The family requests no flowers and suggests donations to the Benevolent Care Fund at Ann’s Choice Senior Living, 10000 Ann’s Choice Way, Warminster, PA 18974, or the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
An online guestbook is available at at louismemorialchapel.com.
