Lafi I. Jafari

Dr. Lafi Ibrahim Jafari, born October 2, 1943, died in his home May 30, 2020. He was born in Ramleh, Palestine, lived his childhood in El-Bireh, Ramallah, Palestine. Lafi received his primary education from the American Friends School which educated refugee children. He excelled in athletics, particularly running, winning a medal at the Middle Eastern Olympics bestowed upon him by King Hussein of Jordan. He earned a scholarship to study in the United States at William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa. Upon arriving in the U.S. at only age 16, Lafi worked many jobs to support himself. He worked one whole summer laying train track ties. With the help of William McMains, someone who became a father figure for Lafi, he began studies at William Penn, where he would later be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. Lafi cleaned the music building in exchange for living in the basement there. After graduating, he began work on a Master's Degree in Botany and received a PhD in Educational Administration at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. While enrolled in graduate school, Lafi worked for the local electrical utility as a meter reader. He met and married Marlene Springe...[more]

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n 1967 and subsequently had two sons. During these years he brought family from Palestine to study and begin their lives in the U.S. He moved to Omaha in 1970 and worked for the Omaha Opportunities Industrialization Center and a Creighton University Career Program. He became a naturalized citizen in 1973. He then started a world trade company, selling and transporting cars, tires and irrigation equipment to Saudi Arabia. In 1977 he formed MM & L International Corporation and began a large residential rental business, which he operated until his death. Lafi traveled the world, often by bicycle, was a charitable soul who gave back in large and small ways, never met an animal he didn't love, and was known as a "bigger-than-life" personality, captivating people with his laughter and his generosity, tossing $2 bills in his wake. Lafi is survived by former spouse and friend Marlene Kerr (Frank), son Majed Jafari of Washington, D.C., son Maher Jafari (Nisha) and Grandson Oliver of Omaha, NE, brother Assaf Jafari of Ramallah, Palestine, nephew Jafar Jafari (Heather) of Gaithersburg, MD, niece Eman (Khalil) Jafari Shaheen of Annandale, VA, nephew Mohammad Jafari (Michelle), Falls Church, VA, nephew Dr. Ali Jafari, Buffalo, NY, niece Angela Jafari of Virginia, long-time companion, MaryLou "Ted" Gruttemeyer of Omaha, NE, numerous relatives and friends throughout the country, and about a dozen cats. Prayer service at 1:00 P.M., Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Visitation to follow service until 7:00 P.M. at Forest Lawn. The prayer service will be live streamed. Go to Forest Lawn Cemetery's Facebook Page - if you "like" the page you will get a notification when the streaming begins at approximately 1:00 P.M. The service will also be uploaded to this site and the Facebook page for those who can not watch it live. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations to the Nebraska Humane Society or the Refugee Empowerment Center, Omaha. Nebraska Humane Society: https://support.nehumanesociety.org/site/Donation2?3580.donation=form1&df_id=3580 Refugee Empowerment Center: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1239085499816598/ (Facebook ensures 100% of proceeds go to the charity.)