An Omaha retailer is dead after being attacked by bees. Steve Parsow was working in his yard near Elmwood Park Wednesday when he was stung, sending him into anaphylactic shock, killing him at the age of 48.

The Parsow family learned to love the outdoors. "I put this in last year myself," said brother David Parsow, spending time near his garden with his dog Harrison. "Steve was an avid gardener, an avid outdoorsman. The whole thing, how this all happened is unacceptable, is unfathomable, incomprehensible."

For the Parsow family, it's not the first time they've dealt with grief. “Every morning I wake up and think of my late brother Jay,” said David. A few years ago, David and Steve lost Jay to heart complications. David said he never imagined he'd lose another brother.

"And now to have to think of both Jay and Steve, I don't need any help to remember that, I don't need to look at pictures. They're in my blood and I always will be thinking of them."

So too will the thousands of customers who have passed through the doors of the family's clothing store on Regency Parkway. Thursday, signs at the front of the store alerted customers of the family's emergency.

Immediately after being stung, Steve seemed fine, then his hand began to swell. The family called 911 and gave him Benadryl, but he was gone by the time paramedics got him to the hospital.

Steve's memorial service is scheduled for Friday. The family says this was not the first time Steve had been stung. He did have adverse reactions to previous stings.

Doctors say reactions like that should be a red flag to anyone to go see an allergist. About five percent of the population is at-risk for an adverse reaction to a bee sting.

Dr. Brett Kettelhut of the Allergy, Asthma & Immunization Association says most patients who are prone to anaphylactic shock have been previously been stung.

"Those patients who have had serious reactions to bee stings, it's very important that they are evaluated for this by an allergist so that they can be prescribed treatment.”

Someone with the allergy could have an adrenaline shot handy in the event of a bee sting or they could take allergy shots to develop a tolerance to stings.