Dr. Henry Burko
Dr. Henry Burko, age 94, died peacefully on the morning of Dec. 27, at home in the company of his family. He is survived by children Julie (Michael) Czerwinski, Robert (Randi Kreger), and Terry (David Taggart).
Also survived by step-granddaughter Jessica Quimby, godchildren Jacob Reidel and Rebecca Reidel-Fry, and many dear cousins, nieces and nephews.
The son of Polish refugees Morris (Moshe) and Esther Burko, Henry was born in Detroit 10 years before the Nazis invaded his parents’ home country. Their shtetl, known as Vladimrits, was one of many villages wiped out despite armed resistance.
Morris, Esther, Henry, and his sister Shirley (died from diabetes age 41) spoke only Yiddish at home, so it was when Henry started Detroit public school that he first learned English. Daily antisemitic harassment was a fact of life.
The local public library was Henry’s refuge. He became a regular library denizen, and his passion for reading kept growing.
Despite his father’s directive to become a rabbi, Henry was drawn to study medicine. An undergrad chemistry major, he became a member of Wayne State University’s first-ever class of medical students to include Jews.
Henry met and fell in love with Barbara Treisman in 1949, and they married three years later. Their union would last almost 69 years, until Barbara’s death in 2021. He also took an ROTC scholarship, and after graduating served in the U.S. Air Force at Sampson AFB in Romulus, New York (1953-56) to repay that debt.
After his tour of duty, the young family moved to Brooklyn, where Henry was Chief of Residents at Kings County Hospital Center. Henry joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University in 1964. He was Acting Chair of Radiology from 1973 to 1976. Nashville’s cultural scene included vibrant community theater, which Henry and Barbara both joined as players.
In 1976, recruited by Mt. Sinai Hospital in Milwaukee, Henry and the family moved to Wisconsin. He was the department leader for the Coleman-Soref Breast Cancer Center when it opened in Fox Point in the 1980s. Henry finished his career with Medical Associates in Menomonee Falls and Waukesha. He retired in 1999.
The family would like to thank Henry’s caregivers from Sunny Hearts Home Care LLC, especially Terry and Alice, who gave their all to assure Dad’s safety and comfort following a broken hip a year ago. We are grateful that he could go home from St. Luke’s for home hospice care, even if it was only for a day.
Private burial was held at Greenwood Cemetery in Milwaukee. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra are welcome.
Sanford Alan Cohen
Sanford Alan Cohen, Fox Point, died on January 7, 2024, at age 78.
Raised in Danville, he was the beloved father of the late Cindy Beth (Cohen) Kostrubala and Genny Faith Cohen; proud grandfather of Justin Edward Gray, Ashley Collette Brown (Alec Davis), and Jack Gabriel Brown; loving companion of Rosemary Murtha; fond father-in-law of Bart Kostrubala; devoted son of the late Dr. Albert Jerome and Bernice (Hutner) Cohen; cherished grandson of Eva Hutner; and treasured friend of thousands.
The big man lived life to the fullest. His happiest days were as owner of the Homewood Theater in Illinois, hosting movie-goers with complimentary punch and coffee cake as if they were family. Sanford lived in many places and did all sorts of interesting work, ultimately returning to the world of movies, most recently as a greeter at the Marcus North Shore Cinema in Mequon. Beyond movies, his interests encompassed all forms of entertainment. Sanford enjoyed live music, theater and sports with friends and family nearly every day. He was an avid fan of the Fighting Illini, Northwestern, the Chicago Bears, and most importantly, his beloved Chicago Cubs. Sanford was a member or honorary visiting member of fraternal and service organizations: Moose Lodge 49 (Milwaukee), Sons of the American Legion Post 355 (Grafton), Cleo J. Ross American Legion Post 368 (Titusville, Pennsylvania), Moose Lodge 84 (Titusville, Pennsylvania).
Graveside service held Jan. 10, at Spring Hill Cemetery, in Danville, Illinois. Memorial service held on Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid, 6880 N. Green Bay Ave., Glendale. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Sanford’s memory to Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid https://www.cbintmilwaukee.org/, Cohen Hillel at the University of IL at Urbana-Champaign https://www.illinihillel.org, or a charity of your choice.
Nicole “Nikki” Craig
Nicole “Nikki” Craig, Shorewood, died on Dec. 11, 2023. Nicole was 40.
Born August 26, 1983. The cause of death was illness.
Nicole attended the High School of the Arts, graduating in 2000, and the University of Missouri. She worked in hospitality. Nikki loved the arts including singing karaoke, acting, painting, drawing and doing craft projects. She was passionate about helping people in need.
Beloved daughter of Lori Craig and Steven (Tiffany) Craig, Loving sister of Marc Craig and Jordan Craig. Dear granddaughter to Shirley (The late Harold) Craig, the Late Earl and Loris Pieper and the late Robert “Mick” and the late Holly McGucken. Further survived by many aunts, uncles, nieces, and many friends.
Buried Jan. 16, 2024.
Rabbi Noah Chertkoff and Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral Home assisted the family.
Memorials are welcome to Pets Helping People (https://petshelpingpeople.org/ways-to-give), 4421 South 49th St., Greenfield.
Yelena Ginzburg
Yelena Ginzburg died Jan. 10, 2024, at the age of 92.
Cherished mother of Zinoviy Trunkovsky and Roman (Taisa) Kontarovich. Loving grandmother of Boris and Leonard Trunkovsky, Kate (Dmitry) Romanuk, Olga Kontarovich and Lizzi (Michael) Hajek and dear great-grandmother of Aleksey Romanuk, Elaina, Mila, and Lucas Hajek. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.
A graveside service was held on Jan. 11 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions made to the charity of your choice appreciated.
Scott E. Halperin
Scott E. Halperin died on Dec. 31, 2023, at the age of 33.
Beloved son of Mark Halperin and Peggy Prince, may their memories be a blessing. Dear brother of Robert N. Halperin. Preceded in death by grandparents, Joan Prince, Mike Halperin and Elsie Halperin. Further survived by other relatives and dear friends.
Graveside funeral service held Jan. 5 at Greenwood Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Abby Phelps officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Wisconsin Humane Society or the charity of your choice appreciated.
Anne Shklair Martel
Anne Shklair Martel died at 97 in Bayside, after living a full life as a beloved mother, admired librarian, avid world traveler, and an active member of her community.
She was born in Montreal, Canada, but soon moved to Chicago and grew up there with her Russian immigrant parents, her sisters, Betty and Yetta, and brother, Irv. Many cousins also lived in the area, and the whole extended family remained close throughout her life. She married Martin Martel in 1950, and they had two children, Chip and Judy. The family moved frequently until they divorced in 1965. Anne then remade her life, moving to Urbana, Illinois, to get her master’s in library science at the University of Illinois. She worked as a librarian there as head of The Illini Union Browsing Room, until retiring in 1991. Being a single, working mother was unusual in the 1960s, but she made it look easy.
Anne traveled frequently in the U.S. and beyond, visiting all seven continents and attending family gatherings all over the country. She had little sense of direction, but she always managed to arrive at her destination. At home, she was always busy with folk dancing, attending plays and concerts, politics (Democratic Party, League of Women Voters, ACLU), Audubon, Herb Society and more. She was also an active member of Congregation Sinai. She had many good friends (it was hard to attend an event in Champaign-Urbana without running into at least one), but was particularly close to Jenifer Cartwright through dancing and more
She is survived by her two children; her three grandchildren, Rick, Malka, and Hanna; and her three great-grandchildren Maya, Eli and Ori.
Private interment took place at Beth Hamedrosh Hagodel Cemetery. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family.
Viktoriya Myaskovsky
Viktoriya Myaskovsky (nee Rimerova) died on Dec. 20, 2023 at the age of 95.
Beloved wife of the late Garri Myaskovskiy. Loving mother of Mikhail (Valentina) and Sergey (Vera) Myaskovsky. Proud grandmother of Yulia Vlasik, Irina (David) Strande, Dmitry Myaskovsky and Anya (Michael) Holst and great-grandmother of Alex Vlasik, Evan Strande and Nina Strande.
Graveside funeral service held Dec. 26 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Yaakov Elman officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Chabad-Lubavitch Wisconsin directed for Ukrainian Jewish Relief Fund appreciated.
Nancy Elaine Sedloff
Nancy E. Sedloff, 89, of Kenosha, died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 at St. Catherine’s Commons.
She was born in Milwaukee on July 5, 1934, to the late Max and Sarah (Becker) Glazer. Nancy graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee and went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nancy was employed in early childhood education. She married George Sedloff in Milwaukee.
Surviving Nancy are her children, Mike (Norma) Sedloff, Bruce (Ann) Sedloff, and Cheryl Sedloff; grandchildren, Jacob (Isaac) Sedloff and Jay Sedloff; great-grandchild, Alexander Max; and brother-in-law, Gabriel (Elaine) Sedloff. She is further survived by other relatives and many friends.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, and husband George in March of 2022.
Interment took place at B’nai Zedek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the American Cancer Society. Proko Funeral Home & Crematory assisted the family.
Mark Louis Sumner
Mark Louis Sumner died on Dec. 23, 2023, after a brief illness.
Beloved husband of Bonnie (nee Warshauer). Loving father of Noah, Robin, Nathaniel and Sam. Proud grandfather of Atticus, Molly, Sumner, Charlie and Benjamin. Dear brother of the late Carole (the late Bert) Feinberg. Further survived by other relatives and so many dear friends.
A special thank you to Mark’s nephew, Dr. Lew Teperman, who managed Mark’s treatment brilliantly and with the utmost love and care; Bonnie’s brother Lewis, who was there to help in the very beginning and since then, has given both useful wisdom and comfort; Bonnie’s sister Sivia, who gave not only advice about her own knowledge and expertise in dealing with medical issues but in every possible material way made the last three months more comfortable and in fact bearable; and our friends and neighbors in Colorado who helped with everything from collecting mail to checking on the house, shoveling snow and more.
Private graveside services held at Prairie Green Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Yosef Samuels and Rabbi Lewis Warshauer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Literary Services of WI, Chabad of Downtown or the Legal Society of Milwaukee appreciated.
Ronald Rickun
Ronald Rickun died on Dec. 22, 2023, at the age of 86.
Preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Lillian Rickun; sister, Sandy (the late Sam) Gaudes. Survived by dear cousin Ken (Dee) Stein. Further survived by other loving relatives and dear friends.
Ron will be fondly remembered as a dear and loving son who personally took care of his father until his time of passing. Ron worked as a liquor salesman for Wisconsin Liquor. He enjoyed traveling, especially to Las Vegas, and was proud to have met Frank Sinatra.
Ron was also proud of appearing in the movies Dillinger, Major League, and another baseball-themed movie filmed in Milwaukee.
Graveside funeral service held Dec. 26 at Second Home Cemetery, Milwaukee. Rabbi Steve Adams officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay assisted the family. Memorial contributions to the Jewish Home and Care Center appreciated.
Diane Vesokie
Diane Vesokie (nee Lichtig) died Dec. 3, 2024, at the age of 85.
Beloved wife of the late Allan Vesokie. Survived by stepchildren, Daniel and Ross Vesokie, and brother, Bernard (Miriam) Lichtig. Preceded in death by her brothers, Arnold and Jordan (the late Julia) Lichtig. Further survived by other relatives and friends.
Graveside funeral service held Jan.8, 2024 at Mound Zion Cemetery, Brookfield. Rabbi Gil-Ezer Lerer officiated. Goodman-Bensman Whitefish Bay Funeral Home assisted the family. Memorial contributions to Temple Menorah appreciated.
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