Barbara Altman
Barbara (nee Jacob) Altman of Milwaukee died Oct. 24, 2018.
For over 40 years Barbara taught Sunday school and Israeli folk dancing at Congregation Shalom. In addition to her time at Shalom she taught chair exercise to Israeli music at Laurel Oaks Retirement Community, the Golda Meir House and elsewhere.
She had an immense love for family and friends and living life to the fullest. She brightened every room she entered and treasured each and every person in her life.
Preceded in death by her dear husband Melvin Altman. Adoring mother of David (Beth) Altman and Dr. Adrianne (Andrew Saletra) Altman. Cherished grandmother of Jake Altman; Brody and Allie Saletra. Loving sister of Richard (Betty) Jacob and sister-in-law of Alfred (Joyce) Altman.
Burial was at Springhill Cemetery on Oct. 28, 2018. Memorial contributions are welcome to the Melvin and Barbara Altman Dance and Recreation Endowment at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center. JccMilwaukee.org/Donate.
Robert Berg
Robert Berg died Dec. 8, 2018.
Robert was born July 17, 1928 in Minneapolis and was a member of Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid.
Loving husband of Donna Berg (nee Roitburd). Dear father of Caren (Daniel) Goldberg and Brad (Lori) Berg. Adoring brother of Toby (Manny) Kohen and Idelle (the late Sheldon) Berke.
Burial at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery on Dec. 10, 2018. Rabbi Joel Alter, Hazzan Jeremy Stein and Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted.
Memorials welcome to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Milwaukee Jewish Day School or Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid.
Roselyn Goldman
Roselyn (nee Sweet) Goldman of Milwaukee died on Nov. 29, 2018. She was 97.
Beloved mother of Stephanie Ayache and the late Douglas Goldman. Preceded in death by her brothers, Irving (the late Marion), Eugene (the late Lee) and Morris (Elaine) Sweet.
A graveside service was held Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. at Beth Moses Cemetery in West Babylon, New York. Memorial contributions to a Chabad organization of choice would be appreciated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted.
Allan L. Leeb
Allan L. Leeb died on Oct. 23, 2018 at age 83.
Beloved husband of Gloria (nee Gottfried). Loving father of Carolyn (Rob) Berg, Deborah (Barbara Thompson) Leeb. Step-father of Marc Borkin and Brian (Renée Destrampe) Borkin. Dear grandfather of Ryan and Eric Berg, Noah and Ari Borkin, Savannah and Mikayla Borkin. Dear brother of Roberta (Robert) Bloch.
Allan taught ballroom dance in the 1950s and 1960s, entertaining at many bar/bat mitzvah parties. He was active in Milwaukee-Harmony and Ozaukee Masonic lodges and he was “Dr. Quack” in the Tripoli Shrine clown unit. Services were held at Congregation Emanu-El B’Ne Jeshurun on Oct. 26, 2018.
Burial was at Mound Zion Cemetary. Rabbi Marc Berkson officiated. Memorials to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun or a charity of your choice. Suminski Weiss Funeral Home assisted.
Boris Letser
Boris Letser died Nov. 30, 2018, at the age of 88.
Beloved husband of Mariya Zelikman. Cherished father of Tatyana (Felix) Belken and Alexander (Yuliya) Letser. A graveside funeral service was held Dec. 3 at Mound Zion Cemetery. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to the charity of your choice appreciated.
Harvey E. Marks
Harvey E. Marks died Dec. 10, 2018. He was 89.
Beloved husband of the late Harriet N. Marks (nee Kaiser). Loving father of Melanie (Marcus) Bandos and Charles (Ruth) Marks. Cherished grandfather of Gerad (Deborah) Bandos, Alana Bandos, Alex Marks and Kaelyn Marks. Harvey will fondly be remembered as a gentle soul and dedicated teacher at LaFollette Elementary School. He also taught Sunday school at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue and was a talented Jazz clarinetist.
A graveside service was held Dec. 12 at Second Home Cemetery. Rabbi Levi Emmer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted. Memorial contributions to Congregation Anshai Lebowitz or Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin would be appreciated.
Shirley Rumack
Nathaniel Zelazo
Nathaniel “Nate” Zelazo, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, died Nov. 22, 2018. He was 100.
As a young immigrant from Poland, Nate quickly became a studious and successful engineer. In addition to his many academic accolades and achievements, Nate’s professional career was just as illustrious. From working with the U.S. Navy developing a secret radar technology during World War II to rising to the executive level of defense companies, it wasn’t until 1959 when Nate co-founded Astronautics Corporation of America with his sister, the late Norma Paige. The company, which now employs over 1,200 people worldwide, became his true passion.
He had been the recipient of the Billy Mitchell Memorial Awards, with honors from the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Defense, just to name a few. He also was granted honorary degrees from Marquette University, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
Nate also had a passion for sailing and skiing, both of which he enjoyed until his late 80s. He also played an important philanthropic role in his local community, national education and the arts. Among many causes, he donated the building for the Helene Zelazo Center for the Performing Arts of University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in honor of his deceased spouse.
Nate will be remembered for his quick wit, entrepreneurial spirit and his ability to challenge people to achieve more than they ever thought they could.
Nate was preceded in death by his wife, Helene, and daughter, Annette. He is survived by his son, Ronald, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his partner of 22 years, Marina. A memorial service was held on Nov. 28 at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. Rabbi Marc Berkson officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted. Memorial gifts can be made to: Marquette University – “Scholarship Fund – Opus College of Engineering” Give.Marquette.Edu/give-online and/or Milwaukee School of Engineering online at Msoe.edu/makeagift.
Dr. Victor Nikolaychik
Dr. Victor Nikolaychik died Dec. 12. He was 74.
Beloved husband of Dr. Larisa Nikolaychik (nee Kamychko). Loving father of Lina (Joseph) Kolin, Anastasia (Andrew) Burmistrov and Alex Mazur. Proud grandfather of Shani, Dalia and Adi Kolin; Nikolay and Victor Burmistrov and Alexandra Mazur. Dear brother of Leonid (Inna) Nikolaychik. Further survived by other loving relatives and friends.
Graveside service was held Dec. 14 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association of Wisconsin appreciated.
Wendy Sager
Wendy (nee Pack) Sager of Fox Point died Dec. 16, 2018. She was 71.
Wendy was a dedicated social worker at the Department of Aging in Milwaukee.
She is survived by beloved spouse Ronald Sager. Dear cousin of Shelley (Dave Pritchard) and Lory Lazarus. Loving aunt of Jeff (Fran), Jim and Jon Pack. Wendy generously supported numerous charities.
Burial was at Second Home Cemetery with Rabbi Isaac Serotta and assistance from Blane Goodman Funeral Service. Memorial donations welcome to the charity of your choice.
Liane Schuminsky
Liane Schuminsky of Milwaukee died Dec. 7, 2018.
She was born Sept. 8, 1934 in Milwaukee. She worked with Modern Clothing in West Allis.
Loving mother of Julie Ellsworth and David Schuminsky. Treasured grandmother of Jaime (Jon) David and Allison Ellsworth. Preceded in death by dear sister Gerrie Weinberg. Cherished sister-in-law of Jerry Weinberg.
Rabbi Ron Shapiro and Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family. Memorials welcome to Horizon Hospice or American Lung Association.
Gary Staiman
Gary Staiman of Fremont, California died Dec. 11, 2018. He was 52.
Dear son of Audrey Laufmann. Loving brother of Lori (Lee) Patrick. Adoring nephew of Patti (the late Jordan) Weigler, Joel (Linda) Miller, and Monte (Karen) Miller. Preceded in death by brother Jeff Staiman.
Burial was at Second Home Cemetery on Dec. 16, 2018 with Rabbi Marc Berkson. Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted. Memorial donations to plant a tree via the Jewish National Fund or to Jewish Museum Milwaukee would be appreciated.
Yuriy Sverdlik
Yuriy Sverdlik died Nov. 19, 2018. He was 87.
Beloved brother of Garriy Sverdlik and the late Basya (the late Alexander Rudnitsky) Rudnitskaya. Dear uncle of Rada (Arthur Lyakhovetsky) Uspensky and Stan Rudnitsky.
Private burial was held at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Memorial contributions made to the charity of your choice appreciated. Rabbi Yaakov Elman and Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted.
Dorothy Tarachow
Dorothy (nee Berger) Tarachow died Dec. 7, 2018. He was 88.
Beloved wife of the late Eugene Tarachow. Devoted mother of Ellen (Lawrence) Rowen and the late Steven Tarachow. Cherished grandmother of Mitchell and Alicia Rowen. Fond sister of Ida Pumpian.
Graveside services were held on Dec. 9 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Rabbi Levi Emmer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorials to Congregation Anshai Lebowitz or the MACC Fund appreciated.
Dr. Marvin Wagner
Dr. Marvin Wagner of Fox Point died Nov. 22, 2018. He was 99.
He was predeceased by his dear wife Shirley to whom he was married for 74 years. “Papa Waggie” is survived by his three loving children; Terry (J. Jay) Goodman, Jeffrey (Dyan) Wagner, and Penny (Scott, in memoriam) Anixter.
Dr. Wagner was a pioneer in general & vascular surgery, and revolutionized surgical patient outcomes. He served as president of St. Michael Hospital. For more than 60 years, he was a practicing surgeon, professor, researcher and author.
For over six decades, he taught gross anatomy to first year medical students at the Medical College of Wisconsin. His tremendously rich legacy of educator, physician, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, mentor and friend, is filled with brighter minds, softer hearts, countless lives saved, healthier bodies, millions of smiles, and a family who was privileged and blessed to share this hero of a man with the rest of our community. And, he could dance.
Above all, Papa Waggie always acted in a selfless manner, always put family first, and inspired all to live and act with love, dignity, respect and compassion.
Tributes in his honor can be sent to the Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W. Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, specifically designated to the MCW Endowment for the Marvin Wagner Professorship of Anatomy and Cellular Biology.
A private graveside family funeral was held Nov. 25, 2018. Assisted by Rabbi Ronald Shapiro and Blane Goodman Funeral Service.