Lifecycle | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Lifecycle 

 

Helene Altshull 

Helene Altshull died Jan.3, 2022, at the age of 76. 

Beloved wife of Stanley Altshull. Cherished mother of Rebecca (Kevin) Magana. Loving grandmother of Alex and Lilly Magana. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends. 

Funeral services were held on Jan. 6 via Zoom. Burial took place at Second Home Cemetery, Milwaukee Rabbi Moishe Steigmann officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to American Cancer Society, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or Michael J. Fox Foundation appreciated. 

The family would like to express a very special thank you to Lawlis Hospice for the loving and compassionate care given to Helene. 

Dr. Ellis David Avner 

Dr. Ellis David Avner died on Dec. 25, 2021, at the age of 73.  

Beloved husband of Jane Avner (nee Adashko). Loving father of Benjamin (Elissa Cahn) Avner, MD, PhD and Jeremy Avner, MSW. Dear brother of Marcia Avner. Further survived by friends, other relatives and colleagues. Dr. Avner graduated from Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He specialized in pediatric nephrology at Boston Children’s Hospital and served in increasingly responsible positions at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, and finally in Milwaukee, where he was appointed founding director of the Children’s Research Institute and founding associate dean for pediatric research in 2004. He retired in 2015 as emeritus professor of pediatrics and physiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and attending physician and director, Multidisciplinary Program for Childhood Polycystic Kidney Disease in the Division of Nephrology at the Children’s Hospital Health System of Wisconsin.  

Dr. Avner held leadership positions in numerous professional organizations including the Society of Pediatric Research, the International Pediatric Nephrology Association, the American Society of Transplantation, and the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation. He served as president of the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology and the Council of American Kidney Societies, and served as an elected member of the Standing and Executive Committees of the International Pediatric Association. Graveside service held Dec. 30 at Second Home Cemetery. Rabbi Joel Dinin officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Lake Park Synagogue where Dr. Avner was president, or Jewish Museum Milwaukee, appreciated. 

Shulamit Elkayam 

Shulamit Elkayam died on Dec. 30, 2021, at the age of 88. 

Dear mother of Mark (Stephanie Melnick) Goldstein, David (Anne Walter) Goldstein, and Rahel Goldstein. Loving grandmother of Ellen, Abigail, Cara, and Vivian Goldstein and Noah and Ari Greenlee. 

Born in Haifa, Israel in 1933, Shulamit came to Chicago in her 20s to pursue an undergraduate degree at Roosevelt University in 1959, followed by a master’s degree in 1961. She got married and moved to Madison, where she obtained her second master’s degree in French in 1967 from the University of Wisconsin. She raised her children and remained in Madison for the rest of her life.  

Shulamit was passionate about education, language, music, and volunteerism. For many years she planned activities and visited senior citizens as the activity director for Atwood Community Center. Shulamit was also a long-time member of Beth Israel Center. 

Semen Goberman

Semen Goberman died Jan. 6, 2022, at the age of 92. 

Beloved husband of Anna Goberman (nee Kuntsman). Cherished father of Alex (Yanina) and Leonid Goberman. Loving grandfather of Natalie (David) and dear great-grandfather of Zachary and Sarah. Further survived by other loving relatives and many dear friends. 

A graveside service was held on Jan. 10 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.    

Norman E. Goldenberg 

Norman E. Goldenberg died Jan. 3, 2022, at the age of 85. Beloved brother of Lloyd (Valerie Brown) Goldenberg. Dear uncle of Samuel and Lana Goldenberg. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends. 

A graveside service was held on Jan. 7 at Spring Hill Cemetery, Milwaukee. Cantor David Barash officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Jewish Family Services appreciated. 

Eileen S. Gosman 

Eileen S. Gosman (nee Lore) died Dec. 31, 2021 at her home in Glendale. She is survived by her two sons, Bob (Xiaoli) Gosman and Michael (Gillian) Gosman. Loving grandmother of Roger, Liam and George Gosman. Dear sister of Nancy (Stephen) Einhorn. Eileen wrote the Bay Watch and Daze of Our Lives columns for CNI Newspapers for many years.  

A private graveside service was held at Greenwood Cemetery. A celebration of her life will be planned for the summer. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Jewish Family Services. 

Donald I. Kramsky 

Donald I. Kramsky died Dec. 29, 2021, at the age of 88. 

Beloved husband of the late Sharon Kramsky (nee Barry). Cherished father of Elliot (Becky), Stephen and Debra Kramsky. Adoring grandfather of Katelyn, Philip and Max Kramsky. Dear brother of the late Judy Kramsky. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends. Preceded in death by his parents, Meyer and Anne (nee Lichtman) Kramsky. 

Graveside services held Dec. 31at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield.  Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Temple Menorah or the charity of your choice appreciated 

Marian “Agie” Laev 

Marian “Agie” Laev (nee Koller) died peacefully on Jan. 9, 2022, at the age of 92. Beloved wife of the late Bill Laev. 

Cherished mother of Linda, Rick (Ann Malcheski), and Jim (Henry Ng) Laev. Proud grandmother of Orey (Katie) Laev, Sara (Patrick) Mielke, Lisa Marks, Stephanie (Nathan Cohen) Marks-Cohen, and Danny Marks. Loving great-grandmother of Margo and Tess Laev. Further survived by other relatives and countless friends. 

Funeral services held via Zoom on Jan.12 with Rabbis Noah Chertkoff and Ron Shapiro officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Congregation Shalom or the charity of your choice appreciated. 

Lola Lemel-Weinrauch 

Lola Lemel-Weinrauch (nee Weinberg) died Jan.13, 2022 at the age of 95.  

Cherished mother of Harold (Seema Kapani) Lemel and Joe Lemel. Loving grandmother of David (Sarah), Daniel (Erin Levendusky), Jesse (Julia) Lemel and the late Adam Lemel. Dear great-grandmother of Hanna, Tori, Evan, Sophie, Hattie and Adam John Lemel. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends. 

She was a truly courageous, loving and inspiring person. She was a Holocaust survivor. How she survived is miraculous enough. But how she went on with life and even thrived after those horrors and the difficulties and tragedies that followed, is just as miraculous, and a testimony to her indominable spirit. Visit a link at this article online to view Lola’s Story by Harold Lemel. 

A graveside service was held on Jan. 17 at Agudas Achim Cemetery, Cudahy. Rabbi Joel Alter officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center or Project Adam at Children’s  Wisconsin appreciated. 

Gerald McKinney 

Gerald McKinney died on Dec. 19, 2021 at the age of 80.  

Gerald McKinney was born on March 4, 1941, in St. Louis, Missouri.  

Gerald attended the University of Wisconsin. In 1965, he married Harriet Schachter and moved to Milwaukee where they raised four children: Shahanna Wynn McKinney (Bill Baldon), David Franklin McKinney (Elizabeth Miller), Adam William McKinney (Daniel Banks), and Jason Schachter McKinney (Karon Anne Click). He would later reunite with his son David Svantesson (Charlotte Löfvenmark) of Stockholm, Sweden.  

After receiving a bachelor of science in education from the University of Wisconsin, he attended Marquette University Law School and earned a Juris Doctorate in 1977. Soon after graduation, he joined the National Labor Relations Board as a labor attorney, where he litigated cases protecting the rights of workers in Milwaukee and across the Midwest region. He retired from the NLRB Pittsburgh regional office in 2009 after more than 30 years of service.  

He served in governance roles with numerous Milwaukee organizations, including the ACLU, Hillel Academy, and Jewish Vocational Services, to name a few. In 2010, Gerald married attorney Mary Leary. 

Grandchildren Dosia Tamar McKinney, Lillie Reddy, Noah Benjamin McKinney, William Joseph (Yosef) Baldon IV, Amira Yael Baldon, Alice Svantesson and Victor Svantesson enjoyed unending love and dedication from their zayde.  

He leaves to mourn him all five of his children, his widow Mary Leary, siblings Tom, Gwendolynne, and Brenda, his lifelong friend Harriet Schachter McKinney (Steven Mandelman), stepdaughter Nicholle Leary, and scores of nieces, nephews, colleaguesand friends.  

Funeral services held on Dec. 22 via Zoom. Rabbi Lynn Liberman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Gerald’s memory to an education charity of your choice. 

Pesya Novik 

Pesya Novik died on Jan. 10, 2022, at the age of 88. Survived by nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and dear friends. A graveside service was held on Jan. 13 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Sasha Milchtein officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to the charity of your choice appreciated. 

Aleksandr Pyatkes 

Aleksandr Pyatkes died on Dec. 17, 2021, at the age of 46.   

Cherished son of Isaak and Lyubov (nee Kravats) Pyatkes. Beloved father of Michael and David Pyatkes. Dear brother of Maria (Dmitry) Konon. Further survived by other relatives and friends. 

Graveside funeral service held Dec. 21 at Agudas Achim Cemetery, Cudahy. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Chabad of Glendale appreciated. 

Scott Rome 

Scott Rome, 75, of Florida, died peacefully on Jan. 9, 2022, after a courageous battle with ALS.   

Scott, born and raised in Chicago, attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison where he met the love of his life Connie. He was a public school teacher for 35 years. He loved the stock market, Badgers and Packers football, music, poker, milkshakes, snickers, but most importantly his family.  

Scott is preceded in death by his parents and sister. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Connie, his daughters Stephanie (Alan), Erika, and his beloved grandchildren Alexis, Jessica, Ryanand Noah. 

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Firefighters on a Mission, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, or Jett Foundation. 

Reva Reitman Schlonsky 

Reva Reitman Schlonsky (Nee Selensky) died Dec. 21, 2021, at the age of 99. Beloved mother of Gail (Stan), Allan and Lawry and stepmother of Riva (the late Peter), Steven (Anee) and the late Esther. Further survived by her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, loving nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

Graveside funeral service held Dec. 22 at Second Home Cemetery, 3705 S. 43rd St., Milwaukee. Rabbi Avraham Laber officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Welcome Home Bed and Breakfast or Lubavitch of Wisconsin appreciated. 

Genya Sigalova 

Genya Sigalova  (nee Goldfarb) died Dec. 30, 2021, at the age of 89. Beloved mother of Irina (Vitaliy) Prodayko. Loving grandmother of Lina (Val) Samandas and dear great-grandmother of Jackelyn and James Samandas. 

A graveside service was held on Jan. 4 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to the charity of your choice appreciated. 

Dolores Sternberg 

Dolores Sternberg (nee Greenspun) died Jan. 7, 2022, at the age of 90. 

Loving cousin of Merle Wasserman. Dear “Auntie” of Dr. Sheldon (Wendy), Russell (Melanie) and Bonnie Wasserman. Further survived by other loving relatives, dear friends and the many first grade children she taught for 54 years in the Chicago Public School System.  

A graveside service was held on Jan. 9 at Westlawn Cemetery, Norridge, Illinois. Rabbi Levi Emmer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Ovation Jewish Home and Care Center or the charity of your choice appreciated. 
 
Clarice Turer 

Clarice Turer (nee Soref) died Jan. 21, 2022, at the age of 94.   

Beloved wife of the late Sidney Turer. Loving mother of Harris (Pam) Turer. Proud grandmother of Brandon and Gaby Turer. Preceded in death by parents, Harry and Bertha Soref; siblings: Ruth (the late David) Coleman, Ida Lynn Soref, Norman (the late Natalie) Soref, and Milton (the late Nita) Soref; dear friend, Mina Bures; and may other beloved relatives and friends. 

Special thanks to head caregiver, Lisa, as well as Kathy and the many others who did so much for Clarice over the years. 

Private services held. Rabbis Ronald Shapiro and Noah Chertkoff officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Hunger Task Force appreciated. 

Marcy Wichman 

On Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, Marcy Wichman, loving wife, proud mother, loyal sister, and cool aunt died at the age of 65 after a hard-fought battle with leukemia. Marcy was born on Nov. 26, 1956, in Milwaukee, to Irving and Beverly Wichman. Marcy married Brian Merwin in 2000, and they later welcomed their dear son, Jayden, into the world. She received her social work degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A passionate advocate for children in the foster care system and mentor to others in the field, Marcy worked as a social worker for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee for nearly 25 years prior to her retirement in 2020. 
 
Marcy was preceded in death by her parents, Irving and Beverly Wichman and two brothers-in-law, Ken Merwin & Curtis Merwin. She is survived by her husband, Brian Merwin; her son, Jayden; her brothers, Craig (Brenda) Wichman; and Scott Wichman (Alice App); her brother-in-law, Dean (Vicky) Merwin; sister-in-law, Joan (Harry) Dacko; her nieces, Jamie Wichman (Theo Apostol), Hilary (Duy) Nguyen, Annie (Curran) Burns and Sara Merwin (Andrew Moe) and her nephew, Bryan Wichman (Sarah Mirocha) and many great-nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Marcy’s name to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087, GiveNow.lls.org 
 
There will be a private family memorial. Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family.  

Margo Winter 

Margo Winter (nee Komie) of Bayside died November 2, 2021. She was 83. 

Margo was born July 23, 1938.  

Predeceased by beloved Jack R. Winter. Graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in 1956, plus University of Wisconsin–Madison and Barnard College. Member of Congregation Sinai. 

She served as a docent for Milwaukee Art Museum and worked as a real estate agent. Margo was an avid sports fan and golfer, yoga practitioner, traveler, supporter of Israel and follower of fashion. She enjoyed friends, dinners out, ballet, theater, art and family. 

Survivors are dear children Jeff (Robin) Winter, Michael (Wendy) Perchonok and Gregg (Sadie) Winter. Loving grandchildren are Dara and Taylor Winter, Jake and Danielle Perchonok, Jessie Perchonok, Jared, Blake and Chad Winter. Beloved great granddaughter Eve Perchonok.  

Place of burial Greenwood Cemetery, Nov. 4, 2021, with Rabbi Joel Alter. Send memorials to the American Lung Association Crohn’s and Colitis foundation. 

Maurice Jacob Woll 

Maurice Jacob Woll, 89, died Jan. 8, 2022. 
Beloved husband of Aviva (nee Myers). Loving father of Lisa (Mark Blumberg) Woll, Rabbi Michal (Jon Sweeney) Woll, Deborah (Terry) Isaacs and Lauren (Gordon) Dow. Proud “Papa” of Michael (Elizabeth) Isaacs, Benjamin (Holly) Isaacs, Matthew Isaacs, Leo Blumberg-Woll, Aklilu Blumberg-Woll, Jack Hennigan, Abbey Hennigan, Anastasia Woll and Sima Woll. Dear “G-Pops” of Jonah, Harper, Ryan, Jacob and Emeric. Service was at Chicago Jewish Funerals, Skokie.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to African Wildlife Foundation, 1100 New Jersey Ave SE, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20003, Awf.org or your favorite charity. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals, Skokie Chapel.