Obituary

Michael Stein, 83, passed away Thursday morning. He is survived by his son Stephen (Pam) Stein, his daughter Laura (Jason) Turbow, his son Benjamin Stein, and his sisters Harriet Stein and Audrey Stein-Goldings. He also leaves behind four grandchildren (Nola and Judah Stein, Mozi and Reuben Turbow) and three nieces, Rachel (David) Adler, Jessica (Jonathan) Panikoff, Rebecca (Peter) Kasherginsky.

Michael was born in Elmont, New York to Bernard and Ruth Stein in 1941. When he was 8, he met a girl in grade school. Her name was Simma Adler. It was love at first sight. According to family lore she said, "I like you because you're fat like my brother." But Michael's family moved and he never saw that girl again... until he went out with a group of friends to a bowling alley 12 years later and that girl showed up and he said (according to family lore), "How yadoin', Toots?" Somehow that worked because they soon got married and moved to Detroit where Steve was born. Then to Madison where Laura was born. And finally to West Des Moines where Ben was born.

Before growing his family and settling in Iowa, Michael volunteered to serve his country as a Captain in Viet Nam. He never shared stories about his experience there other than that one time he was using chopsticks to eat rice and one of the villagers pulled him aside and said, “It might be easier with a spoon.”

A dedicated doctor for his patients and anyone who called day or night, there was never anyone he didn’t give his full attention. Michael was always learning. He could often be found in his study on his big brown chair reading medical journal after medical journal. And always underlining and highlighting. Medicine was his life’s work, but he worked hard in everything he did; whether it was training his dogs, working on his golf game, or tending to his flowerbed in the backyard.

And swimming. Michael LOVED to swim. His backyard pool was longer than most because he needed to get his laps in. And when on vacation, which was usually centered around a large body of water, Michael would swim out past the buoys - much to Simma’s chagrin.

Michael was a devoted father. He always managed to get to swim meets, and Indian Princess meetings. He set the bar high for his children - with love and by example. He loved his family fiercely. It was everything to him.

Michael was proud of his Jewish heritage and faith, which he found later in life. Once a week he would do his best attend a class on the Torah. He always had questions and enjoyed partaking in intellectual and theological discussions.

Michael loved his friends and community. He enjoyed getting coffee and going out to lunch with the guys. And he was a lifer. His friendships went back decades.

Fun fact: Michael raised and showed guppies. Somewhere in the basement is a shiny trophy with a bright blue base and a silver guppy on top.

Michael was a devoted husband to his devoted wife Simma for over 58 years. They loved each other in hard times and good.They loved to dance. And were really really good at it. In fact, Michael and Simma once won a ballroom dance contest in the Catskills. And at any celebration, public or private, Michael and Simma could be found cutting up the dance floor. They'd tear that thing to shreds.

In honor of Simma and her love of the arts, Michael founded the Simma and Michael Stein Des Moines Jewish Film Series. Its goal is to help build community through Jewish programming. The Stein family has long had a love affair with the cinema including making their own films.

Speaking of love affair, Simma was the absolute love of Michael’s life. And when she died, a large piece of him died as well. His last years were challenging without her. He also suffered from health complications. But he is free of that now. He is untethered from this mortal coil. He is with Simma and they are together and they are dancing.

A funeral service will be held 11am Sunday, January19th at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines, with Rabbi Schuster officiating. The burial will follow at Jewish Glendale. Shiva will be announced. For those unable to attend, Michael’s service will be live streamed via the synagogue’s website (www.Tifereth.org).

The family would like to thank the community for their ongoing love and support. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to IRIS… https://www.iowaradioreading.org or Tifereth Israel Synagogue.



ILES DUNN'S CHAPEL

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