Obituaries, April 2018 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Obituaries, April 2018

Beverly L. Bartell

Beverly L. Bartell of Milwaukee died Feb. 23, 2018. She was 89.

She was born July 19, 1928 in Milwaukee and is a graduate of North Division High School. She was predeceased by spouse Dennis.

She was a member of Temple Menorah and an organization called Guten. As a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, family was Beverly’s joy.

Survivors include children Steve (Judy) Bartell, Deborah (Paul) Kexel, Terry (Jim) Robers, grandchildren Jennifer (Mitchell) Grube, Jessica (Christopher) Shannon, Dana Bartell, great grandchildren Allison and Emily Grube and brother Gerald (Annette) Rosen.

Feb. 26 burial was at Spring Hill Cemetery. Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer officiated.

The funeral home was Goodman Bensman.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Temple Menorah, 9363 N. 76th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53223.

Natalie Borenstein

Natalie Borenstein of Madison died January 30, 2018. She was 86.

She was born Jan. 27, 1932 in Milwaukee. She was predeceased by spouse Albert Borenstein in 1973.

Natalie attended University of Wisconsin and earned a medical technology degree. She was a member of Beth Israel Center in Madison.

Borenstein was employed by the University of Wisconsin as a research specialist in the genetics department and at the McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research.

Survivors include sons Steven (Sandy) Borenstein of Whitefish Bay and Neil (Sue) Borenstein of Minnetonka, Minnesota, plus grandchildren Daniel Bernstein and Allie, Jacob and Ben Borenstein. Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison was the place of burial. Memorials may be sent to the charity of donor’s choice.

Doreen “Dodo” Eglash

Doreen “Dodo” Eglash of Fox Point died March 16, 2018. She was 82.

Doreen lived in Skokie, Illinois for 47 years, then Fox Point for the last 15 years.

She was born April 17, 1935. A 1953 graduate of Washington High School, she also attended secretarial school and worked as a patent law attorney’s secretary for 45 years.

Doreen volunteered in the infant room at Jewish Beginnings, and at The ARK in Chicago. She was a life member of Hadassah and was a member of Temple Menorah.

She enjoyed spending time with great nieces and nephews, turtles, watching the Chicago White Sox and jigsaw puzzles.

Sister of Norb (Judy) Eglash and Rod (Helen) Eglash. Further survived by nieces and nephews Michele, Howard, Brian, Michael, Laura and Joel; great nieces/nephews Tori, Talia, Hayley, Zachary, Daniella, Yoni, Ben, Gefen, Ela, Arielle, Judah and Eden.

Burial was at Second Home Cemetery, March 19, with Rabbi Gil Ezer Lerer and Suminski/Weiss Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory are welcome to Temple Menorah or the Crohns/Colitis Foundation.

Eli Gecht

Eli Gecht of Glendale died Feb. 4,, 2018 in his home. He was 98.

Born in Chicago of Russian immigrant parents in 1919, Eli’s family moved to Milwaukee when he was 12. Eli graduated from Washington High School and then earned both bachelor of science and medical degrees from Marquette University.

Eli was drafted toward the end of World War II.  After the army, he returned to Milwaukee to complete a residency in pediatrics. He had a private practice and routinely made house calls, no matter day or night. He was the health officer for the Village of Greendale through most of his career.

Eli became engaged to his wife of over 50 years, Rita Lea Kesselman, on May 15, 1948, the day that Israel became a state. Eli and Rita were always actively involved in their Milwaukee community, participating in book and investment clubs and taking classes such as cooking and music appreciation.

Preceded in death by beloved wife Rita Lea (Kesselman) Gecht.  Survived by three daughters, Ellen Kay (Irwin Bornstein) Gecht of Laguna Hills, California , Maureen (Randy) Gecht-Silver of Glenview, Illinois and Deborah (Efraim) Lev-Er of Santa Rosa, California. Grandfather of Lindy (Mickey Adelman) Bornstein, David Bornstein, Daniel Silver, Shelly Lev-Er and Adi (Baruch Moscowitz) Lev-Er.  Preceded in death by siblings David Gecht (Opal) and Jeanette (Dan) Sobel.  Further survived by brother-in-law Marvin Silver (Ruth Silver) and sister-in-law Florence Slavick (Morton Kesselman).

Funeral services were held on Feb. 6, 2018 at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid and burial at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery with Rabbi Jacob Herber and Hazzan Jeremy Stein officiating. The home was Suminski/Weiss Funeral Home. Memorial contributions to JCC Men’s Club and Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid are welcome.

Bruce B. Jacobson

Bruce B. Jacobson died March 1, 2018. He was 72.

Survived by wife Judy Jacobson (nee Solochek). Father of Ashley (Dr. Joshua) Buckholtz and Douglas Jacobson, grandfather of Leo and Natasha Buckholtz and brother of Dr. Mitchell (Linda) Jacobson.

Funeral services on Monday, March 5th at Goodman Bensman, with burial at Second Home Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Congregation Shalom or Aurora St. Luke’s Advanced Heart Failure Therapies Clinic appreciated.

Leah “Lee” Temkin

Leah “Lee” Temkin (nee Sigman) died March 3, 2018. She was 89.

Lee was born in Appleton and attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she met her future husband, Blair “Bud” Temkin.

Lee returned to school at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee to finish her bachelor’s degree in sociology. One of Lee’s volunteer positions, teaching reading to functionally illiterate adults, led to a career as a reading teacher at Milwaukee Area Technical College. While teaching full-time, and with all four children still at home, she returned to school for a master’s degree in administrative leadership/adult education at UWM and then a doctorate in education from Nova University.

Lee served as a cluster coordinator for Nova’s distance learning doctoral program, helping other doctoral students earn their degree.

Survivors inlcude children Terrie, Mark (Leslie), Larry (Meg), and Ron (Maria) Temkin; her grandchildren Jon (Masha) Librach, Susanna (Curt Harting) Temkin, Daniel (Qing Jiang) Temkin, Teresa Temkin, Andrea (Jason Yu) Temkin, and Becky (Jeff Shipan) Temkin;  her great-grandchildren Sydney and Taylor Librach; her sister, Myra Taxman; her brothers-in-law, Bob Temkin and Royal Taxman; her sisters-in-law Libby and Leah Temkin.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 9 at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun.  She was buried following the funeral service at Spring Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers or food, memorial contributions to The Leah Temkin Adult Education Scholarship Fund at UWM,  The Blair H. and Leah D. Scholarship Fund at the University of Wisconsin – Madison (Fund 12811501); or The Ellen Applebaum Temkin Math Scholarship Fund, c/o Riezman & Berger, 7th Floor, 7700 Bonhomme, Clayton, MO 63105, appreciated. Goodman-Bensman assisted the family, with Cantor David Barash officiating.

Joseph Shutkin

Joseph Shutkin of Milwaukee died December 24, 2017. He was 92.

Shutkin passed away at Ovation Jewish Home. He grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from Washington High School. He joined the U.S. Navy and served during World War II.

After the war, Joe attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a B.A. in zoology in 1947. Later he received a law degree from George Washington University. He received his Juris Doctor in 1951. He received a master’s degree in public law from the University of Wisconsin in 1952. He married the former Glenna Kravat in December of that same year.

In early 1961 at the age of 35, Joe was in an automobile accident and suffered traumatic brain and back injuries. He overcame much and despite his injuries, practiced labor law for close to 50 years. The first 35 years of his law practice were spent in Milwaukee and at the age of 62 he made aliyah. First he worked for the Ministry of Labour and then in private practice. Wishing to be closer to family, he and his wife returned to Milwaukee in 1999.

During his years in Milwaukee, Joe was active with the bar association, the Democratic Party, the Boy Scouts and the Variety Club. He was past president of the American Jewish Congress and the Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning. He performed with the Jewish Center Players and the Yiddish Perhift Players, among others.

He is survived by wife Glenna (Kravat) Shutkin; four children Nina Winer (John), Amy Shutkin (Bob Olken), Sara Shutkin (Scott Woskoff), David Shutkin (Connie Friedman); and grandchildren.

A graveside service was held on Dec. 27, 2017 at Greenwood Cemetery in Milwaukee. Rabbi Michal Woll officiated. Memorial contributions to the Center for Jewish Non-Violence, the Jerusalem Foundation, the New Israel Fund or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.

Phyllis Tragash

Phyllis Tragash (nee Wallace) died March 1, 2018. She was 67.

Phyllis had served as a teacher at Milwaukee Jewish Day School.

Survived by spouse Kenneth Tragash, mother of Brian (Orit) Tragash and grandmother of Elliot Tragash. Further survived by brother Neil Wallace. Also cherished by best friend for over 60 years, Janice Tishberg.

A memorial service was March 4 at Ovation Jewish Home. Service with Rabbi Steven Adams. Private interment at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family appreciated. Contact the funeral home for memorial contribution information.

Dr. William Rabenn

Dr. William Rabenn died Feb. 28, 2018. He was 89.

He was predeceased by wife Charlotte Rabenn (nee Plotkin). Father of Andrew, Lawrence (Anne), Daniel and Tom (Andrea) Rabenn. Grandfather of Joshua, Benjamin, Jack, Rachel, Abigail, Michael and Lucas Rabenn and great-grandfather of Kaleb Rabenn. Further survived by other loving relatives and friends. Funeral services were March 2 at Congregation Sinai of Fox Point. Burial at Mound Zion Cemetery in Brookfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Jewish Family Services, Grand Avenue Club or Congregation Sinai are appreciated. Goodman-Bensman Funeral Home assisted the family.

Stone setting

Alfred Slater

Alfred Slater’s stone setting will be at noon on April 5, 2018 at Mound Zion Cemetery in Brookfield.