Dr. Arthur Julius Elman

A fighter to the end, Art beat cancer twice and in his typical stoic fashion, he never backed down against other health issues that came his way. His can-do attitude was classic.

Called the most interesting man in Kansas City in a recent article in Kansas City Magazine, Art always had a project or three on the front burner. His most recent ambitious undertaking -- with wife Carolyn -- was the restoration of the red-brick Blosser House in Malta Bend, Mo., which was built in the 1870s. The Elmans received a 2019 Preserve Missouri Award for the project from the Missouri Alliance for Historic Preservation.

Art was always on the cutting edge of recycling and repurposing, whether it was scouring the countryside for old barn lumber that could be used for constructing a new barn at his farm in Wisconsin, searching for building materials for a windmill, or parts for restoring several old, rustbucket cars and trucks, a tractor and other farm implements.

But his true loves were collecting early American New England clocks and Thomas Hart Benton lithographs.

Art was born Dec. 27, 1944 in Oak Park, Ill., to Mary Rehm Elman and Julius Elman. He was the oldest of three children, along with sisters Christine and Vickie. An Eagle Scout, he was on the staff of Boy Scout Camp Napowan in Wild Rose, Wisc.

He graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin in 1966, remaining strongly connected to Beloit as a trustee.

At Beloit, he met Carolyn Bufton of Kansas City, and they married in 1967. He graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed an internship at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, and served in the Navy assigned to the Marine Base in Parris Island, S.C. He completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Subsequently, Art practiced at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, and Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Mass., with an appointment to Mass General. In 1983, Art, Carolyn and sons Peter and Andrew moved to Kansas City. He established a private practice as a radiation oncologist at Saint Luke’s Hospital.

Art was a dedicated Salvation Army Bell Ringer, served on the boards of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, the Family Conservancy in Kansas City, Kan., and for many years was the honorary French consul in Kansas City.

For 25 years, Art and Carolyn made annual hiking trips with friends in France. He liked canoeing and fishing on the Tomorrow River in Wisconsin. He biked one summer across Nebraska, and later developed an interest in furniture-making, home construction, and even designed a hexagon-shaped barn to store his vehicles at his farm.

He enjoyed bridge (and Negronis, Manhattans and Margaritas), and enjoyed the camaraderie provided by his book club, breakfast club, investment club, movie club, and friends on the golf course.

Art was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include Carolyn Elman; Peter and wife, Kim Elman; Andrew Elman; granddaughters Hannah Elman and Vivienne Elman; his sisters Christine and Vickie; sister-in-law Sara Rosen; brother-in-law Steve Rosen; and brother-in-law Jim Bufton.

A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, April 23rd, at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway. The service will also be available virtually. Contact the church for the link at 816-381-9249.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Family Conservancy, 444 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. 66101; and to Pathway to Adventure Council, Boy Scouts of America, 811 W Hillgrove Ave. LaGrange IL 60525. Please indicate “Camp Napowan Donation” in any correspondence.