Victor (Vic) Allen Applebaum, age 75, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love of his family, on June 29, at Village Shalom.
Vic was born on March 15, 1951, at Menorah Hospital and grew up in Kansas City, graduating from Southwest High School in 1969 and the University of Missouri–Kansas City with a B.A. in sociology in 1973.
Vic was a salesman at heart and never failed to strike up a conversation everywhere he went. His career started at the Jones Store in downtown Kansas City, where he was the furniture buyer for all area Jones Store companies. He traveled to the major furniture manufacturers in North Carolina twice a year to make selections that he knew would sell.
Vic met Adrianne on a blind date in the fall of 1974. “It was love at first sight.”
They were married just nine months later, on Sept. 21, 1975, and celebrated 50 years together in September.
After leaving the Jones Store, Vic went on to work for Colonial Clocks, selling grandfather and assorted clocks on the road. This career path led to the opening of his own store, Accents Plus, at 75th and Wornall. The store expanded to 79th and Metcalf, where he sold furniture, clocks, music boxes and ceiling fans. He was one of the first retail store owners to introduce ceiling fans into the Kansas City marketplace. Retail business was hard, and Vic decided to close the stores and move everything to a storefront on Southwest Boulevard. A major flood from Turkey Creek wiped out the store and led to a new career path.
He started selling residential real estate in 1985, designing and developing neighborhoods on both sides of the state line until he retired in 2022. Vic earned numerous sales awards with RE/MAX, Prudential and Realty Executives.
He went on to earn multiple awards from the Greater Kansas City Home Builders Association for Best Design, Best Tour Home and Pick of the Parade many years in a row.
Vic named his building company American Dream Homes, Inc. He always felt that owning a home you could be proud of was the American Dream.
Family always came first. Vic loved all the Jewish holiday family celebrations, the traditional foods, family vacations, cruises and the beach. He was especially proud of his children, Jeremy, Amy and Michael, and did his best to offer advice and help whenever he was called upon.
Vic was a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and a founding member of Congregation Beth Torah.
Vic was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Ida Applebaum.
He is survived by his loving wife, Adrianne; sons Jeremy (Liron) Applebaum and Michael (Setareh) Applebaum; and daughter Amy Applebaum (Michael Novorr). Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Rick and Sheri Applebaum; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Jo Ellen Lewis (of St. Louis, Missouri); his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Steven and Rochelle Kohn; plus nieces, nephews and cousins.
“Papa” will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, whom he deeply loved and adored: Elliana and Ari (children of Jeremy); Isabelle and Sasha (children of Michael); and Alexander, Noah and Henry (children of Amy).
Vic will be forever known for his bigger-than-life personality, strong love of family, determination and grit. His memory will live on through the stories and one-liners that we will continue to share and smile over.
The family is grateful for the support of Dr. Donald Cohen and his staff for over 30 years; the nurses, CMAs and CNAs at Village Shalom; and the staff of Evergreen Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the JFS Food Pantry, Kosher Meals on Wheels, or Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy.
Funeral services were held on July 2 at the Louis Memorial Chapel, followed by burial at Rose Hill Cemetery.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.