Ira Wezelman

A shining light was snuffed out when Ira Wezelman drew his last breath at Sanford Health in Bismarck on June 12, 2025, at the age of 56.

A Celebration of Ira's Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 27th, 2025, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck.

Ira was born in Bismarck, ND, on February 8, 1969, to Sol and Sybil (Sloven) Wezelman. His half-sister, Joy, was a student at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Ira was born with Down Syndrome and other challenges but his entire family made sure Ira had every available opportunity to enable him to live his life to the fullest extent possible. And so he did, far exceeding his life expectancy, enjoying an enviable quality of life under the circumstances.

Ira was educated in the Bismarck Public Schools system, culminating in his completion of high school at Bismarck High. He was an integral part of the BHS student body long before Peer-to-Peer programs existed.

While Ira may not have been able to communicate well verbally, he always found ways to communicate effectively. Many persons were amazed at the depth of his understanding. That depth was due in no small part to his parents and his special friend, Sherrie Kashinejad, who tutored him outside of school and helped make reading a big part of Ira’s life. He loved going to the library, reading books, and reading and sharing his newspapers and many magazines with others. He also liked to look at and “read” maps. One time, during a family road trip, he startled everyone when he accurately read a highway sign.

After high school, from 1991 until his death, Ira received residential and habilitation services through Pride, Inc. He enjoyed many varied activities with his housemates, compatriots at “work”, and staff, along with time spent with family. He liked volunteering at bell ringing for the Salvation Army red kettles, delivering Meals on Wheels, and photocopying at the Germans from Russia office. Other highlights included going for walks in the mall with Dad, Friday night Sabbath dinners and Jewish holiday dinners with his family, watching golf and football on television, Saturday morning pottery lessons with Marge Brandt (followed by a Diet Coke), participating in Special Olympics bowling and track and field, going to movies, going to the zoo (Dakota Zoo in Bismarck and other zoos when on trips), and “out to eat”, particularly at his favorite – McDonald’s.

Ira wholeheartedly loved summer camp and trips. He first attended Camp Grassick on Lake Isabel, then many years at Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN, and finally, Camp Recreation in Richardton. Family trips over the years included visits to relatives in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Arizona for visits and special family occasions. Two memorable non-family trips were small group vacations with Friendship Ventures Tours, one to Nashville, TN, and one to Branson, MO. Last, but certainly not least, were the trips to Medora, the Black Hills, other South Dakota destinations, and Yellowstone National Park with members of his Pride “family.”

To say Ira appreciated music is an understatement. He did not like heavy metal or punk but everything else was perfectly fine, ranging from classical to country and all genres in between. He was a regular presence at Bismarck-Mandan Symphony concerts over the years; many concert-goers may recall seeing Ira “conduct” in his seat, feet dancing to the rhythm. He had a grand time at Country Fest in New Salem with one of his staff and her family. And what a blast when he attended a Foreigner concert at the Bismarck Event Center with his friend John.

Nobody enjoyed a party or holiday celebration more than Ira. He had special hats for every occasion. From the time he was a little boy he had to dress up as Superman for Halloween; no other super hero would do. He made the most of birthdays—his own and anyone else’s. He turned his own birthday party into a Polish-wedding style event: cake (had to have a frosting rainbow on it) and “pop” at work, cake at home with his housemates, dinner out with his housemates (courtesy of his family), balloons, etc. A birthday wouldn’t be a birthday without cake, Diet Coke, and, when he could finagle it, ice cream.

Ira was a very sociable, generous, usually polite person who was almost always up for a good time. He was also a gracious host when the occasion called for it. At the open house for his father’s 90th birthday, Ira took it upon himself to be the greeter and make introductions. Unlike most of us, Ira loved meetings of all kinds and made sure to introduce himself, prompting others to do the same. All was not “business” however. Ira had a quirky sense of humor and took particular delight in playing practical jokes.

Ira was raised in the Jewish faith, which was an important part of his life. He loved the holidays, the traditions, and the associated services and rituals. He also took great pride in sharing those traditions with his housemates, colleagues and staff at Pride. Perhaps the proudest moment in his life (and his parents’ and sister’s too) was Ira’s Bar Mitzvah in 1986. That ceremony comes only after months of hard work and study, including the recitation in Hebrew of a Torah portion, and marks the transition to being recognized as an adult member of the faith, with the responsibilities and privileges that milestone entails. A Bar Mitzvah usually takes place when a Jewish boy turns 13. It took Ira a few years longer but he was determined. With the help and encouragement of Sherrie Kashinejad and his parents, Ira succeeded. Relatives and friends came from far and near to celebrate the momentous occasion. Ira beamed from ear to ear the entire weekend. Not even a bee sting that nearly closed one eye could dampen his spirit as he thoroughly enjoyed every minute being the star of the festivities.

Ira embraced life, and all it has to offer, to the fullest. We can all benefit from Ira’s example. One of Ira’s cousins captured Ira’s essence perfectly: He was a feisty little powerhouse who never allowed his size nor impairments to interfere with his enjoyment connecting with friends and family. He will be mourned by all who loved him.

Ira is survived by his sister Joy, a beloved aunt, Saralee Sloven of West Des Moines, IA, many cousins, and many friends of all ages. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sol and Sybil, his grandparents, and many aunts and uncles.

Memorials may be made to Pride, Inc., PO Box 4086, Bismarck, ND 58502-4086; Dakota Zoo, 602 Riverside Park Road, Bismarck, ND 58504; Special Olympics North Dakota, 2616 South 26th St., Grand Forks, ND 58201; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.