Obituaries
MISCHA POLLOCK
September 15, 1924-January 9, 2019
It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Mischa Pollock, beloved husband, father and grandfather, on January 9, 2019, at the age of 94.
Mischa is survived by his loving wife, Lynn; children, Dr. Debbie Pollock, Dr. Neil Pollock (Michelle); grandchildren, Benny Pollock- Kreel, Joshua, Elliot and Shoshana Pollock.
He is also survived by his brothers, Gordon and Harvey Pollock, sister, Cecile Kowall; brother-in –law, Monte Kowall, sister- –in-law, Beverly Bell; and many nieces and nephews.
Mischa was predeceased by his parents Sam and Sluva Pollock and sister, Myra Kravetsy; in-laws, Rose and Phillip Bell; brothers- in-law, Abe, Saul and Benny Bell, Chaim Kravetsy, sisters- in- law, Sylvia and Margaret Bell, Sylvia and Mimi Pollock.
Mischa had a good soul, a “gitte neshama” that will be everlasting. His life was filled with good deeds. Mischa was a moral, good and decent person, a true “mensch”. He was a sincere and humble man.
Mischa was a loving and devoted family man. He was a generous and kind person who did everything for his family. He was the happiest when he was with his wife, children and grandchildren. They were the love of his life. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments and received so much Nachas.
Mischa immigrated to Canada in 1927 from Uman, Russia along with his parents Sam and Sluva Pollock and sister Myra. He spent his youth growing up in Bethany, Manitoba and later moved to Winnipeg where he attended St. John’s High School. He continued his post secondary education at the University of Manitoba, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree. Mischa was a brilliant student. He was also a prolific poet. Mischa had a passion for reading, writing and reciting poetry. He enjoyed the serenity of nature and listening to Classical and Jewish music.
On October 2nd, 1960, Mischa married his soul mate, Lynn Bell. They shared fifty-eight years of marriage together, filled with happiness and many joyous celebrations.
Mischa was a very well respected, dedicated, and
successful businessman who owned and operated the Department store, Mischa Pollock Clothiers, well known throughout the Winnipeg Community.
As a result of Mischa’s determination, hard work and keen business sense, he was able to retire at a very young age. He continued to remain productive and active throughout his life.
In his retirement, he became inseparable from his devoted, dear and loving wife Lynn. They enjoyed travelling together, visiting their children and grandchildren in Vancouver and going to Palm Springs.
Lynn’s total dedication to Mischa was evident in how she took such loving care of him throughout his life and especially over the last two years when his health failed, wanting to keep him at home with her for as long as she possibly could, even to the detriment of her own health.
Mischa and Lynn’s individual strengths and attributes complimented each other and provided the family with a solid home environment in which to grow up, filled with abundant love and wonderful memories.
Mischa and Lynn spent three enjoyable years together at the Shaftesbury Retirement Residence where they met many new friends. Mischa spent the last year of his life at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre. Our family would like to thank Mischa’s private caregivers, Meseret and Margarita for their kind, compassionate care. They became like part of our family.
Mischa was eternally grateful to his loving daughter, Debbie who balanced being a daughter, doctor and staunch advocate for him over the years navigating the health care system. Debbie ensured that Mischa received the best possible medical care during his many hospital admissions, consults and treatments. She was always by his side.
Thank you to Mischa’s long time cardiologist, Dr. John Rabson, for giving Mischa such excellent medical care.
Heartfelt thanks to Rabbi Yosef Benarroch for visiting Mischa and for providing comfort and support to the family during Mischa’s final days and immediately upon his passing at the Simkin Centre. Thank you to Rabbi Emeritus, Alan Green, Rabbi Anibal Mass and Bill Weissmann for visiting Mischa in the hospital and for their beautiful prayers.
Funeral services, officiated by Rabbi Mass, were held at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue with interment at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on January 11th, 2019. Pallbearers were Dr. Neil Pollock, Dr. Jeffrey Bell, Joshua and Elliot Pollock, Benny Pollock-Kreel, and Ethan Pollock. Honorary pallbearer was Shoshana Pollock.
Donations may be made to the Lynn and Mischa Pollock Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to a charity of your choice.
Mischa will be deeply missed. His inspiration and actions will live on eternally through his children and grandchildren.
May his memory be a blessing.
Zichrono-Livracha.
Obituaries
SAMUEL SEARLE October 29, 1930 – December 1, 2025
Our dear father, Sam, passed away on December 1, 2025, after a long, rich life of 95 years.
Dad shared almost 67 of those years with our dear mother, his beloved wife, Betty, who predeceased him in April of 2024. Sam was also predeceased by his parents, Dora and David Cirulnikov; three of his four older sisters, Bernice Brownstone, Marion Toffick, Luba Sitchin, and their respective spouses; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doreen and Garry Shapera.
He is survived by his children Sharna, Lorne (Barbara) and Beverlee (Barry); grandchildren Evan, Aaron, Jamie and Matthew; sister Eve Blank; many nieces and nephews who adored him and for whom he was Uncle Sammy; several cousins; and many friends and former colleagues. All delighted in his company.
Sam was the youngest and only son in a family of five children. His parents emigrated from Russia in the late 1920s with his three oldest sisters. Eve was born shortly after they arrived in Canada and Sam in 1930. The family lived in Winnipeg’s North End and Sam attended public schools and the Talmud Torah night school. During the summers, and part-time throughout the years while continuing his education, he worked as a short order cook at both the Silver Grill Restaurant and Arcade Deli. Dad made his legendary, piled-high sandwiches into his eighties!
After graduating high school from St. John’s Tech, Sam was accepted into the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, and ultimately went on to enjoy a very accomplished career as a partner with MMP, a major local architectural firm, and later, as a founding partner/developer with Duraps Corporation and Pine Hill Development Corp. In a career that spanned almost half a century, Sam made his mark on the landscape of Winnipeg and other North American cities, having been involved in the design and construction of private residences, schools, concert halls, fire halls, university and government buildings, and the development of condominiums, residential subdivisions, shopping centres and industrial land.
In addition to his professional life, Sam was also a dedicated community volunteer. A long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg North, Dad was awarded Rotary International’s highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellow medallion, for his contributions and service to the organization. He also served on the board of the Rosh Pina Synagogue for several terms and was a charter member of the Bel Acres Golf & Country Club.
Dad was also a talented, and ambidextrous, artist, a curler, green thumb, dapper dresser and terrific dancer. He and Betty always lit up a dance floor!
Sam shared a wonderfully rich family life with Betty. Married in 1957, they moved four years later into the mid-century modern masterpiece that Sam designed for them in Garden City (a then new, north end Winnipeg neighbourhood) and in which they remained throughout their entire marriage. The house magically expanded and contracted as needed and saw its share of fabulous parties, Passover Seders and a multitude of family simchas and other joyous gatherings. As parents, they were loving, excellent role models who encouraged strong family connections. As grandparents, Zaida Sam and Bobbie Betty were the best – adoring, proud, involved and a lot of fun!
Locally, Sam and Betty enjoyed attending the symphony, chamber music and jazz concerts, the opera, the Folk Festival and the theatre. Their worldly travels took them to Mexico, Israel, China, Cuba, Europe, the Caribbean and North American camping trips and ski holidays. Closer to home, their cottage in Gimli (Loni Beach), MB, was a focal point for family and friends every summer.
Our father was a man of unwavering integrity, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a generosity of spirit. Respected and respectful, Sam Searle was a great guy, a real mensch. He will be deeply missed.
The last year and four months of Dad’s life were spent at the Simkin Centre. Sharing an ice cream and a smile, singing with him, particularly at the “Friday Night Lights” Shabbat service, were precious moments.
Sam passed away peacefully at the Grace Hospital. We are grateful for the care and kindness provided by the staff at both institutions. A heartfelt thank you, as well, to Sharon Merrells, the ultimate “Sam whisperer,” for her years of care and dedication, especially over those last challenging 16 months.
The graveside funeral service, held on December 4, 2025, at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park, was warmly officiated, on a freezing morning, by Rabbi Kliel Rose. The pallbearers were grandchildren Evan, Aaron and Jamie Searle and Matthew Pearl, son-in-law Barry Pearl and great nephew Gavin Shapera.
Donations may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s “Betty & Sam Searle Memorial Fund” or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
JEAN SHIRLEY KOPSTEIN February 14, 1934 – January 11, 2026
Jean Shirley Kopstein passed away peacefully, a month shy of her 92nd birthday, with her three devoted children by her side.
Known to her family as Shaney, Jean will be deeply missed by her children, Ivy (Murray), Ruth, and Alan; her grandchildren, Louis, Minnie (Patrick), Leo (Ashley), and Max (Brynne); her great-grandchild, Margot; her brothers, Martin (Grace) and Gary; as well as her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jean was born on Valentine’s Day in 1934 in Montreal. In 1939, her family returned to Winnipeg, where they settled in the city’s North End. During her second year at the University of Manitoba, Jean met Bobby Kopstein, the light of her life. They married on June 23, 1954. That same year, Jean graduated as a teacher and taught for three years before choosing to stay home to raise their family.
Later in life, Jean embarked on a deeply meaningful professional career and left her mark on every organization she served. She worked as a counsellor at the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, went on to become Director of Staff Development and Training for the provincial Department of Corrections, and was seconded by the government to establish the Manitoba Women’s Directorate. She was often described as an inspiration – a wonderful colleague, a thoughtful leader, and a great friend.
Jean had many passions and immersed herself fully in all of them. She loved travelling with Bob and had a keen appreciation for music, art, design, fashion, film, and food from many cultures – always in search of the perfect muffin! She formed deep bonds with family and friends, with constant concern for the well-being of those she loved. Jean and Bob were humanists who led by example, instilling strong values in their family.
Jean had a unique and engaging presence. She was outgoing, vivacious, curious, and intelligent. She lit up a room with her energy and her beautiful, warm smile.
Diagnosed with glaucoma in her 60s, Jean began a long and challenging period in her life. After the loss of Bob in 2014, she faced further health difficulties. Despite these challenges, her desire to live fully never waned. She remained interested in the world around her and took great joy in family dinners, trips to Winnipeg Beach, and spending time with family and friends.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in Jean’s care over the many years, especially those who went above and beyond. They are deeply grateful to Shaftesbury Park for its support, and in particular to Jean’s caregivers for their outstanding care, compassion, and kindness. The family also thanks the clergy and staff of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue for their services and support.
Donations in Jean’s memory may be made to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
ISADORE (IZZY)MINUK (Z”L) JULY 5, 1927 – DECEMBER 30, 2025
With great sadness, we announce the passing of Isadore (Izzy) Minuk, on December
30, 2025, at the age of 98.
Izzy was born on July 5, 1927, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the third of five boys born to Tibel and Ben Minuk. Izzy was predeceased by his beloved wife Merle Minuk and his
cherished son Morley Minuk.
Izzy leaves to mourn his children Martin Minuk (Stephanie), Linda Rabkin (Jack), Jeffrey Minuk (Lora) and Cheryl Bokhaut (Bradley), thirteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Our father was a man of great wisdom, kindness, strength and resilience. He was
fiercely devoted to his family. He was committed to his health and well-being and a longtime member of the Rady JCC.
Izzy spent his last years at the Simkin Centre. Our family would like to express its appreciation and thanks to the Staff and Administration of the Simkin Centre for their attentive care.
Donations in Izzy’s honour may be made to the Merle and Isadore (Izzy) Memorial Fund
at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Simkin Centre or the Rady JCC.
Daddy will always be our sweetheart