Obituaries | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Obituaries 

 

Fred Alan Chester 

Fred Alan Chester of Mequon died Nov. 13, 2021, at the age of 88.   

Beloved husband of Jane Chester (nee Solomon). Loving father of Amy (Michael) Cohen of Thiensville and Michael (Patricia) Chester of DePere. Proud grandfather of Elizabeth Miller, Ginger (Nathan) Hoeffner, Benjamin (Amy) Chester, Ted (Maggie Aspenson) Cohen, Mitchell (Kendall) Chester, Nolan Cohen, and Rayna Cohen and great-grandfather of Xavier Wade Silva and Lennon Cohen. 

Fred was born on Nov. 19, 1932. He attended Riverside High School followed by University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. After retiring from TV repair, Fred drove a school bus part-time for University School of Milwaukee, where he loved the children and their jokes. Fred was also an active member and past commander of the Jewish War Veterans of Milwaukee-Horenstein-Katz Post 701. 

Graveside funeral service with military honors held Nov. 17, 2021, at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Joel Alter officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid or American Cancer Society appreciated. 

Bennett Karan 

Bennett G. Karan died on Nov. 2, 2021, at the age of 72.  

Beloved husband of Sara Karan (née Smilovici). Loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend to so many all around the world. Father of Betzalel and Yaffa, Simcha and Laura, Akiva and Elana, Raphael, Gavriel and Ilanith, Elisha & Mazi and 15 grandchildren: Michael, Aryeh, Eliana, Margeret, Avner, Moshe, Dovi, Shalva, Tova, Noa, Ayala, Eyal, Maya, Noam and Eytan. Loving brother of Ken (Robyn), Chana (Joel) Eckhardt. Further survived by many loving relatives, friends and brothers-in-arms in the American Army and Israeli Defense Forces.  

Military honors and funeral service held Nov. 4, 2021, at Anshe Sfard Kehillat Torah. The Burial took place on Nov. 7, 2021, in Israel at Tzfat Municipal Cemetery.  Memorial contributions to the charity of your choice appreciated; Ben loved to support Jewish education, Israel and those in need. 

Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. 

Sharon Keller 

Sharon Keller died Nov. 12, 2021. 

Born Oct. 26, 1954, in Milwaukee, Sharon graduated from Nicolet High School in 1972. Member of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. Survived by Dennis and Sandy Samenfeld, Gary and Debbie Samenfeld, Connie Levings, Laura and Tim Levingwood. Late parents were Lore and Kurt Keller. Place of burial Springhill Cemetery. Rabbi Marc E. Berkson assisted the family with Heritage Sumniski Funeral Home. 

Helga Levings 

Helga Levings died on Nov. 7, 2021, at the age of 94. Helga was born in Bacharach am Rhein, the youngest daughter of Augusta and Joseph Keller and sister of Ruth Luprecht and Kurt Keller. She fled with her family in 1938 and settled in Milwaukee. She met and then married her late husband, Jack Levings, in 1955 and is survived by her daughters, Connie Levings and Laura Levings (husband Tim); grandson, Brandon Levinwood; extended family; and a wonderful community of friends. 

Services held Nov. 11 with burial at Spring Hill Cemetery, 166 S. Hawley Ct., Milwaukee. Rabbi Marc Berkson and Cantor David Barash officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun or Jewish Museum Milwaukee appreciated. 

Robert Rochwerger 

Robert S. Rochwerger died on Oct. 27, 2021, at the age of 72. Loving brother of Marlene (Howard) Mayers and the late Beverly Melnick. Preceded in death by his beloved parents, Joseph and Mildred (nee Levine) Rochwerger. Further survived by other relatives and friends. 

Graveside funeral service held Nov. 1 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Temple Menorah, 9363 N. 76th St., Milwaukee, WI 53223 appreciated. 

Alana Ruble 

Alauna Drage Ruble died peacefully on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, surrounded by her loved ones.  

She fiercely loved and protected those that were kept close to her heart. Alauna was inspirational to all who knew her by conquering a heart attack, breast cancer, a pineal tumor and a stroke. Alauna was born Dec. 27, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Raymond D. and JaJuan Drage. Alauna and her husband, Lyle, lived in Salt Lake City, Utah; St. Louis, Missouri; Atlanta, Georgia; Concord, California; and Shorewood, Wisconsin. Alauna was lucky to have met Lyle Ray Ruble, Jr., the love of her life, her B’shert, her sweet babu. Lyle and Alauna met each other while studying at the University of Utah. They married in 1982 and remained happily married until Alauna’s untimely death. 

In 1980, Alauna graduated from the University of Utah with two bachelors of science in Psychology and Sociology and a certificate in criminology. In 1998, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor of arts in social work. Over the next 28 years, she passionately devoted her life to helping those individuals in need as a social worker in child protective services. In 2006, Alauna started her Master of Social Work and worked diligently; however, its completion was prevented by disability. 

While Alauna may have faced many difficulties throughout her life, she held true to herself and her beliefs. Alauna was a firm believer in tikkun olam and actively worked toward that goal through protecting vulnerable children and with everyday acts of kindness. She was creative and compassionate with an infectious love that grew and blossomed within each person who had the privilege of knowing her. 

She is preceded in death by her father, Raymond D. Drage; her mother, Jajuan L. Drage; and sister, Kris D. Goodman. 

Alauna is survived by her brother, Brent Drage (Leslie); her husband, Lyle Ruble; and her children: Tamera Ruble Gibson (Danon), Tonya Ruble, Andrew Ruble (Evangelina Arreguin), and Sarah Ruble. She is also survived by her five grandchildren: Jordan Grymes (Brittany), Lauren Bolton, Aaron Gibson (Skyler), Jak Kinder, and Owen Gibson, and her nine great-grandchildren: Ryder, Elaina, and Aria Murphy; Bennet, Greyson, Andalyn, and Kinsley Grymes; and Emberly and Isabella Gibson. Her family and beloved dog, Reibehr, will miss her greatly.  

Funeral services held in Salt Lake City.  Goodman-Bensman Funeral Home assisted the family.  Memorial donations in Alauna’s name to the charity of your choice appreciated. 

Marilyn ‘Mindy’ Spitz 

 
Marilyn “Mindy” Spitz (nee Feldman) died on Nov. 3, 2021, at the age of 87.   

Beloved wife of the late Sanford Spitz. Cherished mother of Jodi (Alan) Lederman, Alan Spitz, and David Spitz. Proud grandmother of Eric (Brooke) Lederman and Steven (fiancée Amanda Hutchison) Lederman. Further survived by other relatives and dear friends. 

Graveside service was held Nov. 7 at Second Home Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to American Heart Association or American Cancer Society appreciated.  

Freya Teplinsky 

Freya Teplinsky, 77, died Oct. 10, 2021. 

Freya was born to Esther and Jack Joseph on Sept. 8, 1944. Freya met the love of her life, Allan, when she was 16 years old. They married on Sept. 5, 1965, and remained married for 56 years. Together they had two children: Michael and Danny. Throughout her life, Freya demonstrated steadfast eternal love and commitment to her family and her friends. Family and community were Freya’s purpose and passion. Her greatest joy was laughing with her family. 

She had a wonderful sense of humor and was able to laugh at herself and her own idiosyncrasies. She found purpose in helping others and had a real passion for animals. Freya found great joy in her Jewish heritage and giving to the Jewish community, dedicating a tremendous amount of time to her synagogue and fundraisers. She was surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest. Her memory will be cherished eternally. 

Freya enjoyed spending time with family, volunteering at Temple Ramat Zion and collecting dolls. 

Freya is survived by her loving husband, Allan, her two sons, Michael and Danny, their wives, Debbie and Renee, her four grandchildren, Devon, Max, Alexis & Courtney, her younger siblings Janis, Jeffrey and Jennifer, as well as their spouses Gary, Barbara and Paul, in addition to many cousins, nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren 

Burial at Eden Memorial Park, Oct. 14, 2021, with Funeral Home Groman Eden Mortuary in Mission Hills, California. Memorial Contributions: Pancan.org or Trz.org. 

Paul Weprinsky 

Paul Weprinsky, Sr., Master Sgt. Air Force (Retired) died Nov. 11, 2021, at the age of 91 years.  

Beloved husband of the late Barbara Weprinsky (nee Olsen). Cherished father of Deborah (Glen) Nye, Julia (Wayne) Stemo, Bennett Weprinsky and Sheila Weprinsky. Proud grandfather of Heather (Jake), Nicolette, Patrick (Jen), Melissa, Joey and Jason, and dear great-grandfather of Jonathan, Connor, Abby, and Hudson. Dear brother of Barbara Belman and fond brother-in-law of Irwin Olsen and Sheila Olsen.  Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.  Preceded in death by many cherished relatives and friends. 

A graveside service was held on Nov. 16 at Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove.  Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer officiated.  Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions made to Children’s Tumor Foundation appreciated.