Obituaries, July 2019 | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Obituaries, July 2019


Morry Leo Birnbaum

Morry Leo Birnbaum of Boca Raton, Florida died May 20, 2019. He was 71.

He was born March 17, 1948 in Germany and came to Wisconsin as a baby.

The graduate of Rufus King High School went on to serve on the board of the Medical College of Wisconsin and was active at Brynwood Country Club. He served as president of Marshall & Ilsley Bank & Trust Company.

Special interests included golf, playing cards, traveling and spending time with his grandchildren

He is survived by spouse Mari Ellen Birnbaum, plus sons Robby (Lauralee), Danny (Sarah), and grandchildren Gabriel, Emma and Matthew, and brother Eddie.

Morry’s proudest role was being a grandfather to his three grandchildren. He was their super fun-loving chief chauffeur, candy smuggler and loudest cheerleader at all school events. He hosted and sponsored many charitable events. He was a mentor, Glendale youth softball coach and friend to all. Morry was a huge Wisconsin sports fan.

Burial was in Boca Raton, Florida. Memorials may be sent to the Nathan & Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center.

Pauline Mechanic Cohn

Pauline Mechanic Cohn of Milwaukee died June 17, 2019. She was 100.

Born Jan. 16, 1919 in Milwaukee, she was predeceased by spouse Louis Cohn in 1997.

A 1937 graduate of North Division High School, she was a member of Congregation Anshai Lebowitz. She worked as a secretary and later, homemaker. During World War II she served in the War Department and Office of Price Administration in Washington D.C. and continued working in Chicago for the federal government after the war.

Pauline enjoyed reading, travel, meeting people, and maintaining loving connections with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Survivors include three children, Perry (Betsy) of Ewing, New Jersey, James (Pamela Martin) of Wilmette, Illinois, and Richard of Milwaukee; four grandchildren, Zaidy Rivera, Ilana Cohn-Gomez, Elizabeth Cohn-Martin, and Nicholas Cohn-Martin; and two great-grandchildren, Ariela and Kaileia.

Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery burial on June 20, 2019 with Rabbi Ron Shapiro and Goodman-Bensman Funeral Home. Memorials are welcome to the Jewish Home & Care Center Foundation.

Benjamin Nathan Derfel

Benjamin Nathan Derfel of Shorewood died June 7, 2019. He was 44.

He was born Aug. 22, 1974 in Milwaukee. A graduate of Nicolet High School, he loved baseball, old cars, cats, telling jokes and of course his family and friends. Survivors include mother Suzanne Derfel, sister Ruth Weill, nephew Bradley Page and uncle Ken Tragash, among others.

Place of burial was Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions are welcome to the American Diabetes Association.

Constance Donahue

Constance Donahue of Milwaukee died May 31, 2019. She was 85.

She was born July 29, 1933 in Milwaukee.  

Constance was a registered nurse, a paralegal, insurance company assistant, Rhinelander Wisconsin City Council member and business owner during her career. She will be missed by family and friends.

She is survived by four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Also by her brother Robert Habush (Miriam Habush) and sister Bonnie Schwartz. Children are John Hirsch (Mary), Juli Finkelstein (Michael), Jim Hirsch (Laurie Laz), Jeffrey Hirsch. Grandchildren are Daniel Hirsch, Michael Hirsch, Andrew Finkelstein, Nikki Natoli (Brian), Sophi Hirsch, Noah Hirsch, Jesse Laz Hirsch, Emma Laz Hirsch (Ike Sriskardarajah), Jordan Laz Hirsch, Louisa Laz Hirsch. Great-grandchildren are Ada Laz, James Laz, Ray Laz, Cameron Natoli.

Spring Hill Cemetery burial, June 2, 2019, with Rabbi Ronald Shapiro and Blane Goodman Funeral Service.

Mandel Reuben Katz   

Mandel Reuben Katz of Grafton died June 6, 2019. He was 84.

“Ruby” was born Aug. 12, 1934 in Marinette, Wisconsin. 

He is survived by spouse Marcia Katz (nee Minkin). Father of Lawrence (Lisa) Katz, Robert Katz, Helaine (Alan) Ratskoff and Howard (Jill) Katz. Grandfather of Rebecca, Sarah, Hannah Neubauer; Elliot Katz, Genna (Corey) Friedman; Marlee and Ilana Katz; Hayden and Lily Katz; Jason (Robbyn) Ratskoff. Great-grandfather of Leo Friedman, Cooper, Charli and Jocelyn Ratskoff. Brother of Rachel (Jerome) Cornfield, Judith Katz and Rosalie (Alan) Pemberton.

Ruby’s passion was his family and his profession. He founded H & R Scrap Metal Co, Inc in 1954 in Milwaukee, which is still run by the Katz Family.

Graveside services were June 7, 2019 at Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Jewish United Fund. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff and Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family.

Robert Evan Kristal

Robert Evan Kristal of San Francisco died May 18, 2019. He was 58.

Born Feb. 15, 1961, he has been a member of Temple Menorah, where his parents are current members.

Survivors include parents Bernard and Judy Kristal; brother Lawrence Kristal and aunt Elaine (Patrick Kitlas) Perlman, and other relatives and friends.

Graveside services were May 23, 2019 at Second Home Cemetery, 3705 S. 43rd Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to American Cancer Society or Temple Menorah appreciated. Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer and Suminski / Weiss Funeral Home assisted the family.

Harry Pump

Harry Pump died April 14, 2019.

Survived by wife Edie Pump. Harry was the father of Steven (Sujata Nadkarni) Pump, Rochelle Freiberg and Todd Pump. He was the brother of Sidney (the late Juleen) Pump, the late Sam (Estelle Swerdlow) Pump and the late Katie (Robert) Zimring and the brother-in-law of Sidney (Suzy) Herszenson and Sara (Sam) Hanna. Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Celia Pump, and nephew, Daniel Pump.

A graveside service was held April 17 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, 134 S. Dana Court, Milwaukee. 

Memorials are welcome to the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, P.O. Box 4124, New York, NY 10163. Or to the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, 8733 W. Watertown Plank Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53226 Attn: Foundation Office.

Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.

Richard Louis Siegel, DDS

Richard Louis Siegel, DDS, of Glendale, died June 3, 2019. He was 83.

He was born Oct. 26, 1935. Richard was married to Joan, the love of his life, for 63 years. He is survived by Joan Siegel. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He played a mean round of golf and exceled at tennis. He worked for 60 years as a dentist and enjoyed providing excellent care for all his patients.

Siegel was born in Milwaukee and attended Washington High School. He was a member of the American Dental Association. Burial was at Spring Hill Cemetery. The funeral home was Goodman-Bensman. Memorial contributions are welcome to the National Kidney Foundation’s Wisconsin chapter.

Judith Ann Weber

Judith Ann Weber, a Milwaukee native, died in Elgin, Illinois on April 1, 2019.  She was 74.

She had been a resident of the Chicago area since the 1970s.

Born on June 19, 1944, she was the daughter of the late attorney William Weber and the late Ruth Leon Weber. She was also predeceased by her sister, Barbara Weber Zamsky.

She graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1962 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1966.

With a degree in nutritional science and dietetics, she did a residency at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City and then worked for several companies, including Pillsbury, Kraft, Groen and Treasure Island Cooking School.

A devoted cat mom to her precious fur babies, Judith is survived by nephew Robert Macklin (Las Vegas), cousins Ellen Abrams Blankenship (Shorewood), Bob Leon (Germany), Bill Leon (Seattle), Lisa Weber Zetley (Fox Point), aunt Adrienne Weber (Glendale). Further survived by other aunts and cousins, relatives and friends, including her dear friends Jan Krafka and Carl Gustafson of Elgin who were there for her until the end.

Graveside service was held on May 10 at Spring Hill Cemetery with Rabbi Noah Chertkoff officiating.

Memorial donations are welcome to the American Diabetes Association or your local no-kill humane society.

Dorothy Weingrod

Dorothy Weingrod died on June 17, 2019. She was 97.

Mother to Herschel and Carmi Weingrod, aunt to Jeremy and Shila Tuchman, great-aunt to their children, cousin to many, and great friend to scores in Milwaukee and worldwide. Dorothy gave tirelessly of her time and skills to non-profits devoted to Jewish causes as well as working in the Pentagon during World War II. She’ll be remembered for her strong opinions, her compassion for others, her amazing memory and her lifelong passion for the game of bridge. She’ll be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.

Burial at Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery on June 19, 2019 with Rabbi Steve Adams and Blane Goodman Funeral Service.

Marion Winston

Marion Winston of Brown Deer died May 21, 2019. She was 97.

She was born Feb. 18, 1922 in Marinette.

Preceded in death by husband Michael Winston. Mother of Judy (Dr. Bruce) Schlecter, Dr. Jeffrey (Laura) Winston, Dr. James (Julie Gorens-Winston) Winston, Joel (Nancy) Winston, and Dr. Jay (Miriam Moses-Winston) Winston. Grandmother of Blair (Amy), Daren, and Jordan Schlecter; Goldie (Louie) Pine, Matthew, and Ryan Winston; Danielle, Jennifer, and David Winston; Nicole and Andrew Winston; Alaina and Grant Winston. Great-grandmother of Emily and Ethan Schlecter; Penelope Pine. Special thanks to Dr. Raul Mateo for his outstanding devotion and care, loving caretaker Dasha, and Kwaku Dadzie for his spiritual kindness and care.

Graveside entombment May 23, 2019 at Spring Hill Cemetery. Memorials to Congregation Shalom, The Shul, Congregation Beth Jehudah or Ovation Jewish Home. Rabbi Ronald Shapiro and Noah Chertkoff assisted the family, with Blane Goodman Funeral Service.    .

Workplace

Madison Medical Affiliates, Milwaukee’s largest independent physician practice, is welcoming Kenneth Fabric, M.D., Fred Shafrin, M.D. and Thomas Bloom, M.D.  to their growing practice. The ophthalmology specialists will be accepting new patients at Madison Medical Eyecare – Glendale, located at 5150 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 251.