Bessie Erens, nee Davidson, of Shorewood died Aug. 10 of a stroke. She was 98.
She was born in Milwaukee and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Milwaukee State Teachers College and Marquette University, respectively. She worked as a teacher at the Milwaukee Area Technical College.
She was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi education honor society, Sigma Phi Tau sorority, and Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue. She enjoyed bridge, embroidery, walking, and belonging to a book club.
Her husband, Sidney Erens, died in 1982. She is survived by son Robert (Khalida Khan) Erens; sister-in-law Beulah Erensky; and two grandchildren.
Blane Goodman Funeral Services handled arrangements. A graveside service took place Aug. 13 in Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Jewish Family Services of Milwaukee.
Milwaukeean Sylvia Goldstein, nee Sadowsky, died of heart and lung disease on Aug. 30. She was 90.
She was a Milwaukee native who graduated from Randolph High School in 1940 and attended Milwaukee Vocational School from 1940 to 1942.
She worked as a bookkeeper and homemaker. She was a member of Congregation Anshai Lebowitz, Hadassah, and City of Hope.
Her husband, Henry Goldstein, died in 2010. She is survived by daughter Elayne Goldstein of Milwaukee; son Lawrence (Carolyn) Goldstein of Olney, Md.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Cantor Jerome Berkowitz officiated at the funeral on Sept. 2. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery.
Former Milwaukeean Jeanette Johnson, nee Skurnick, died on Aug. 19 of old age. She was 100.
She was born in Milwaukee and graduated from North Division High School in 1929. According to her family, she was an avid reader, and was skilled at knitting and at playing cards and bingo.
Her husband, Joseph Johnson, died in 1967. She is survived by daughter Dorene (Bernard) Westler; sons Philip (Sandi) Johnson and Jeffrey (Sonya) Johnson; brother Irving Skurnick; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at the funeral on Aug. 22. Burial was in Agudas Achim Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Brittney Gigl Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Nicolet High School.
Ben-Tzion “Bentzi” Karsh, professor of industrial and systems engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, died Aug. 18 after an 18-month battle with ampullary cancer. He was 40.
Born in Milwaukee, he graduated from Nicolet High School and earned his undergraduate and two graduate degrees, at UW-Madison, finishing his doctorate in 1999. He joined UW-Madison as assistant professor in 2000, earned tenure in 2007, and became full professor in 2012.
His research focused on reducing medical errors and optimizing patient safety. According to an Aug. 21 article on the UW-Madison website, he lectured about these topics in many countries.
The article also said he was passionate about teaching and mentoring. He was one of the first engineering professors to videotape his lectures. He guided more than half a dozen students to their doctoral degrees.
He is survived by his wife Arielle (nee Silver); daughter Emmanuelle and son Nadav; parents Sari and Yehuda Karsh; and siblings Tamar Karsh-Fogel, Eyal Karsh, and Don Karsh.
Cress Funeral Home handled arrangements. A service was held Aug. 20 in Madison. Burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery.
The family has established college trusts for Emmanuelle and Nadav. For information about contributing, contact tamarkarshfogel@yahoo.com.
Milwaukeean Harriet S. Klafter, nee Schrader, of Glendale, formerly of St. Petersberg, Fla., died on March 27 of complications of old age. She was 90.
She was born in Chicago and graduated from Milwaukee’s Riverside High School in 1939. She attended a secretarial school and worked as a secretary for Union Mutual Life.
She was a member of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun and Hadassah.
Her husband, Harvey J. Klafter, died in 1988. She is survived by daughters Linda (Thomas) Loggie and Wendi (Dave) Halstead; son Harvey Klafter Jr.; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi David Brusin officiated at the funeral on March 29. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery.
Julian Robert Matsoff of Mequon died Aug. 15 of a heart attack. He was 90.
He was born in Chicago and came to Wisconsin in the 1930s. He graduated from Union Grove High School in 1939. He owned a women’s clothing store, Esther’s of Hartford, 1958-88.
He was active in SCORE, a non-profit association dedication to helping launch small businesses, and he received a lifetime achievement award for 45 years of service to the organization.
He was a member of Congregation Beth Israel and enjoyed sports.
His wife of 67 years, Rosalyn (nee Chitlik), died in 2010. He is survived by daughters Shelley (Lanny) Polansky of Mequon and Rosie (Malvin) Finkelstein of Eugene, Ore.; and one grandchild.
Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at the funeral on Aug. 19. Burial was in Second Home Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Balance Inc., 134 S. Foster St., Saukville, WI, 53080.
Michael L. Schuster of Plymouth died March 6 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 66.
He was born in Manitowoc, graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee in 1963, and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.
According to the website of Sufra Publications, he had worked as a probation officer and stockbroker before becoming an author, lecturer, workshop facilitator, and founder of Sufra Publications. He wrote several books, including “Continuous Energy and Upcoming Earth Changes” and “A Journey Toward Forgiveness.”
He had been a member of Congregation Shalom. He also enjoyed traveling and nature.
He is survived by son Steven (Melissa) Schuster and brother Stanley (Esther) Schuster.
Peace of Mind Services handled arrangements. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at a memorial service March 8 at Congregation Shalom.
The family suggests memorial contributions to the Wisconsin Parkinson Association, 945 N. 12th St., Milwaukee, WI, 53233.
Natalie Sodos, nee Levitz, of Milwaukee died July 13 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She was 82.
She graduated from Riverside High School in 1946 and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She worked as an accountant.
She was a member of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, Hadassah, and Eastern Star.
She is survived by daughter Maureen Sodos; son Saul (Dena) Sodos; and four grandchildren.
Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. A graveside service was held in Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery on July 18.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to Jewish Family Services of Milwaukee.
Elaine C. Strauss, nee Jacobson, of Fox Point died on Aug. 16 of natural causes. She was 91.
She was born in Monroe and came to Milwaukee in 1927. She graduated from Riverside High School in 1938 and attended Downer Teachers College for two years.
She was a homemaker. She was a member of Congregations Shalom and Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun and was active in the latter’s sisterhood. She was a volunteer teacher of English to Russian Jewish immigrants. She also enjoyed cooking and traveling.
Her husband, Raymond R. Strauss, died in 2005. She is survived by daughters Julie L. (Randy) Even and Wendy S. Schuster; son Allan (Judith) Strauss; six grandchildren; and ten great-grandchildren.
Blane Goodman Funeral Service handled arrangements. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro officiated at the funeral on Aug. 19. Burial was in Greenwood Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to Congregation Shalom.
Marvin Tarnof of Fox Point died of a sudden illness on June 28. He was 86.
He was a Milwaukee native who graduated from Washington High School and attended the Spencer Business College. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
In 1949, he opened Sun Ray Heating, which later became Sun Ray Builders, and he ran it until his death. He was a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
He was a member of Congregation Beth Jehudah. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite, Harmony Lodge, and the Tripoli Shriners. He enjoyed walking, golf, and sports.
He is survived by daughter Madelaine (John Seymour) Yafet; son Bradley Tarnof; sister Rose Portnoy; and three grandchildren.
Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi Michel Twerski officiated at the funeral on June 29. Burial was in Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to Congregation Beth Jehudah or Congregation Sinai.
Former Milwaukeean Sondra Weiner, nee Schulkin, of Trinity, Fla., died Aug. 15. She was 71.
She was born in Chicago, graduated from Washington High School in 1958, and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She worked as a bookkeeper and homemaker.
When she lived in Milwaukee, she was a member of Congregations Beth Israel and Anshai Lebowitz. After she moved to Florida, she became active in Congregation B’nai Emmunah in Tarpon Springs, serving as a trustee and treasurer.
She was a member of ORT and Hadassah. She enjoyed mahjong, baking, knitting, and traveling to visit family members.
Her husband, Harold Weiner, died in 2003. She is survived by daughter Lauren (Howard) Cohn; sons Mark (Amy) Weiner and David (Gaby) Weiner; and 11 grandchildren.
Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home handled arrangements. Rabbi Steve Adams officiated at the funeral on Aug. 17. Burial was in Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Aultman Foundation c/o Sondra Weiner SICU and LTAC Fund, attention Lee Kenny, 2600 Sixth St. S. W., Canton, OH, 44710.
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