Linda Veronica Beer
Linda Veronica Beer died March 13, 2022, at the age of 70. Preceded in death by loving parents, John and Margaret (nee Weiss) Beer. Dear sister of James (Nancy File) Beer and aunt of Sara Liba Schrager and Peri Beer.
Graveside funeral service held March 18 at Agudas Achim Cemetery, Cudahy. Rabbi Yisroel Lein officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Brain and Behavior Research Foundation or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research appreciated.
Eugene “Gene” Gilbert
Eugene (“Gene”) Gilbert, a long-time financial advisor and life-long learner, died at age of 95 in Milwaukee.
After short stints in Detroit, Chicago, and Wichita, Kansas, Gene began his life in Milwaukee in 1936. An Eagle Scout in his teens, he graduated from Rufus King High School in 1944. And then he immediately joined the United States Army Air Corps shortly before the end of World War II.
Gene first attended Michigan State University, enrolling in the engineering school, but, shortly thereafter, transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he studied for two years. He then transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1949.
Madison is where Gene met the love of his life, Inez Rits, who he married on Oct. 20, 1949.
Professionally, after working in the real estate, construction and insurance industries early in his career, Gene became a stock broker/financial advisor for Bache & Company, which eventually became Prudential Securities, in 1962.
Gene was the president of the Milwaukee Turners. He was also the chairman of the National Turnfest, a national gymnastics competition, in 1977. Gene participated as a gymnast in several national meets well into his 80s.
He served on the boards of the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Achievers Program and the Benedict Center for Criminal Justice. He also served as an investment committee member for the Children’s Outing Association and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Later in life, he served as a docent for the Jewish Museum Milwaukee.
Survived by wife Inez, Gene was proud of each of his and Inez’s three children, Charles, born in 1951, Bruce, born in 1954, and Maggie, born in 1957. And he had a special twinkle in his eye for his grandkids, Molly, Emily, and Casey from Philadelphia, and Sam, Ben, and Jacob from Minneapolis. And watching his young great-grandkids, Ava, Calder, Jane, Jack, Mia, and Charlie, start their journeys in life—and learn Grandpa Gene’s name!—was a genuine source of pride for Gene.
Gene is also survived by Bruce’s wife Andrea Gilbert, Maggie’s husband Robert Rosenbaum, Molly’s husband Ben Zulauf, Emily’s husband John Nosal, Casey’s partner Nick Penney, Sam’s wife Jennifer Rosenbaum, Ben’s partner Erin, Jacob’s fiancé Morgan Burkhart, nieces and nephews, and loyal friends around the globe.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Gene’s honor to Saint John’s On The Lake or a charity of your choice. Private services held. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. A memorial service will be scheduled for a later date.
Liliya Gorelik
Liliya Gorelik (nee Pevzner) died March 15, 2022, at the age of 74. Beloved wife of Semen Gorelik. Cherished mother of Diana Zabolotney and Vitaliy (Yelena) Gorelik. Loving grandmother of Eugene Zabolotney, Daniel Lipko, Bryan Gorelik and Nicole Gorelik. Dear sister of Yefim Pevzner. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.
Funeral service held March 17 at Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home. Interment took place at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Memorial donations to the charity of your choice appreciated.
Naum Ioffe
Naum Ioffe died Feb. 25, 2022, at the age of 83. Beloved husband of Tsilya (nee Gershtein). Loving father of Rimma (Michael) Konovalenko and Dmitriy (Nicole) Ioffe. Proud grandfather of Fred (Kimberley) Konovalenko, Kaseniya (Scott) Jensen, Kira Ioffe and Isabell Ioffe and great-grandfather of Nolan, Caleb and Harper. Dear brother of Anatoly (Maria) Ioffe.
Funeral service held March 1 at the Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home. Interment took place at Greenwood Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Memorial donations to American Cancer Society appreciated.
Elsie Kanin
A vibrant and loving woman with a great zest for life, Elsie Kanin died on March 19, 2022, at the age of 94.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Mamie and Sam; brothers, Zachary Slomovitz (Ruth z”l) and Jonathan Slomowitz (Shirley); sister, Esther Driss (Harold, z”l); other family members; and many dear friends.
Elsie joined the Army Nurse Corps during World War II and met the love of her life, resident physician Harry, while working in the nursery, handing him a newborn baby to examine.
Once all of her children were old enough, she resumed her education and majored in art history at UW-Milwaukee. She fell short of earning her B.A. because she didn’t feel like taking the required science class, but she gained a deep and lifelong passion for art history and contemporary art. Elsie used this knowledge in her 40-year career as a volunteer docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Jewish identity was central to Elsie’s life, along with her family. Elsie had many friends with whom she enjoyed a game of tennis, charity activities, and especially, a good laugh on a juicy phone call. In her later years, she walked daily, keeping herself fit and sharp.
A graveside funeral service was held March 22 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Wesley Kalmar officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to The Joint Distribution Committee or Milwaukee Art Museum appreciated.
Elsie is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Harry; their children, David (Donna), Sandra Basker (Seth) and Judith Joseph (Ted); her grandchildren, Michael Kanin (Cindy), Rebecca Kanin, Jacob Basker (Henrieke), Jonathan Basker (Asli), Cameron Joseph (Blake), Emmett Joseph (Alyssa), Ethan Joseph (Danielle); her great-grandchildren, Alaska and Tennessee Basker and Tobias Kanin; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Slomowitz (Jonathan z”l) and Shirley Friedman (Alvin z”l); and many nieces and nephews and cousins in the Katz family, which became her own.
Fanchon Lessing
Fanchon Lessing (nee Meisel ) died Dec. 30, 2021, in Ann Arbor Michigan. She was 99.
Fanchon was born in Janesville but grew up in Milwaukee. She graduated from Washington High School and Marquette University. She graduated with a degree in English and worked as a substitute teacher in the Milwaukee schools. Later in life she much preferred working in the business world as an executive secretary. After living most of her life in Milwaukee she moved to California in 1967 and then moved to be near her family in Michigan in 2011, while maintaining close ties to her Milwaukee friends. Fanchon enjoyed ballroom dancing, bridge, traveling, theater and reading. She was the sister of the late Gilbert Meisel and Sanford Meisel. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Louise (Lessing) and Alan Fligiel of Ann Arbor, daughter-in-law JoAnne Lessing (and the late Jay Lessing), her grandson, Matthew Fligiel of Chicago and several nieces, a nephew and their families.
George Sedloff
Izhac Shaer
Izhac Shaer, Mequon, died March 5, 2022. He was 76.
Born Sept. 16, 1945 in Chernovtsy, Ukraine, he was a member of Chabad of Mequon. Izhac came to Wisconsin from, Akko, Israel in 1989.
He was an owner of Countryview Group Homes. He loved fishing, his dog Charlie, and above all his family.
Survived by spouse Zvia Shaer, as well as children Ruth (Jason) Kantrowitz, Maia (Zvika) Givli and Orit (Michael) Yelin.
Loving grandchildren are Leah and Emma Kantrowitz; Netta, Noa and Adi Givli; and Hannah and Eli Yelin. Burial was March 6 at South Florida Jewish Cemetery. Rabbi Moshe Rapoport and Kronish Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorials may be sent to Chabad Center for Jewish Life, Mequon.
Sylvia Stern
Sylvia Stern (nee Shapiro) died Dec. 21, 2021, at age 94. Beloved wife of the late Norm Stern. Dear mother of Scott (Sandra) Stern and Lisa (Warren) Solochek. Cherished grandmother of Jodie and Jason Stern; Ben (Julie) Solochek and Andrea (Joseph) Tucker. Further survived by her two great-grandchildren, wonderful caregivers, other relatives and friends.
Sylvia was born and raised in the Bronx and spent her high school years in Rochester, New York. Anxious to begin her adult life with a new adventure, she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. It was there that she met her husband, Norm, and they built their life and raised their family in Milwaukee. Sylvia loved art, music and theatre, and enjoyed singing in a number of local amateur productions. She had a passion for travel and passed that curiosity about the world on to her children and grandchildren. As a homemaker, she was known for her baked creations; and, among family and friends, her sharp wit was legendary. Sylvia will be missed by all who knew her.
Blane Goodman Funeral Service assisted the family. Graveside service was held Dec. 24, 2021 at Second Home Cemetery, Milwaukee. Memorial contributions to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun.
Lesya Tsvibel
Lesya Tsvibel died Feb. 20, 2022 at the age of 95.
Beloved wife of the late Iosif Tsvibel. Cherished mother of Polina (Peter Hoffman) Tsvibel and Larisa (Jacob) Nudel. Loving grandmother of Boris Ableman, Dmitriy (Margarita) Nudel and Irena (Mark) Stein. Dear great-grandmother of Benjamin and Nathan Stein, Olivia and David Nudel. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.
Funeral services held Feb. 23 at the Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home. Rabbi Shlomo Kittner officiated. Burial at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield.
Alvin R. Ugent
Alvin R. Ugent died Jan. 31, 2022 at the age of 92. Beloved husband of the late Beverly Ugent (nee Heller) for 61 wonderful years. Cherished father of Linda (Benjamin) Ber, Doug (Valerie) Ugent and Debra (Jeffrey) Hansher. Loving grandfather of Sarah (David), Jeremy, Caleb, Daniel, Jacob and David and adoring great-grandfather of Noah, Liam and Jordan. Dear brother of Don (Peggy) Ugent and the late Bernard Ugent. Further survived by other loving relatives, fond friends and his dear canine companion Mazel.
Alvin was a fearless and passionate attorney for nearly his entire life.
Graveside funeral service was held Feb. 2 at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Noah Chertkoff officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Wisconsin Humane Society or Congregation Shalom appreciated.
Marvin A. Wolfman
Marvin A. Wolfman died Feb. 23, 2022, at the age of 86.
Beloved husband of the late Annette Wolfman (nee Lippow). Cherished father of Wendy (Sheldon) Wasserman, Vicki Wolfman and Scott (Sara) Wolfman. Proud grandfather of Joseph, Lauren and Ben Wasserman, Mikaela and Celia Wolfman. Dear brother-in-law of Jeffrey (Sue) Lippow and the late Harvey (Jane) Lippow. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.
He was a kind, modest and generous person who helped many small businesses with their accounting and always listened to their stories. He will be greatly missed by his family and our community.
A graveside service was held on Feb. 25 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Yisroel Lein officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Chabad of the East Side.