Joplin has lost a long-standing community leader with the passing of Dolores "Dee" Bové Kassab on October 11, 2026. She died peacefully at her Joplin, Missouri home, surrounded by loved ones. Kassab was known for her significant contributions to the local real estate market, her passion for the arts, and her extensive involvement in numerous civic organizations across the Four States area.
Kassab built a distinguished career in the second half of her life, becoming an owner of Pro 100 Realtors with her partners in 1983. Her talent for sales and engagement with people quickly established her as a force in the Joplin real estate market. She was an active member of the National Association of Realtors, a member of Realtors PAC, and achieved lifetime membership in the Million Dollar Club. Beyond real estate, Kassab served several years as the Chairwoman of Missouri Business Week and contributed to its board.
Her commitment to community extended through a wide array of philanthropic and civic endeavors. Kassab was a member of St. Philips Episcopal Church and St. Peter's Church. She served on the board of the Ozark Center for Autism and the Brushstroke Board for the American Cancer Society. Her generosity also benefited the Salvation Army and the March of Dimes, where she served on their boards. Additionally, Kassab was Chairperson for the American Heart Association, a member of P.E.O., and a Century Member of the United Way, reflecting a lifelong dedication to service.
The arts were a central passion for Kassab. She earned high honors with her Masters of Music from Pittsburg State University and was recognized as a notable coloratura soprano. She dedicated many hours to teaching classical music and the arts to her students, children, and grandchildren. Her enthusiasm for the performing arts helped shape the local cultural landscape; she was an original board member of the Heartland Opera Theater and was instrumental in its establishment in the Four States area.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 15, 1933, to Italian immigrants Antionette and Anthony Bove, Dee brought her New York "zeal" to Joplin in 1953. She moved to the area after marrying Leon Kassab, whom she had met in New York while he was buying for his family's clothing store, "Kassab's." The blend of her Italian heritage and his Syrian background made their kitchen a legendary gathering place for friends and family. While settling into Joplin, she cultivated a wide circle of friends and remained active in social life, including membership at Twin Hills Country Club and Millennium Family Fitness, where she was an avid golf and tennis player. She was also a founding member and past president of The Board Investment Club and a member and past president of Wednesday Study Club. She maintained her connection to her roots with annual fall trips to New York City for the Pi Phi Theater Tour, enjoying Broadway shows and dining with friends and family.
Dee Kassab’s greatest joy was her role as a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Kassab; her daughter, Reneé Kassab; and her granddaughter, Reneé Blanchard. She is survived by her daughter, Karolee (Kent Blanchard); her son, Ralph Kassab (Patti); her grandchildren, Kristen (Brant Ansley), Leon Kassab (Laura), Lillian Kassab, and Will Blanchard; and her great-grandchildren, Mercer and Blanchard Ansley, Guy and Isaac Kassab, and Ariana and Lanaia Kassab. Her advice to others was always to "have a great attitude," emphasizing that with faith and family love, any difficult situation could be navigated.
Interment will be held on Monday, October 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery in Webb City, Missouri. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Joplin, Missouri, with visitation held immediately after the services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dee Kassab to the MSSU Foundation, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, the Joplin Humane Society, or the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO P.O. Box 8960, Springfield, MO 65801).
