It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Ken Tennenhouse on February 27, 2025 at the Riverview Health Centre. Ken passed surrounded by his family at the age of 66 after an eight month battle with cancer. He will be deeply missed by his wife Reesa, children Lana (Erik), and Emily (Connor). He will also be mourned by his siblings Karen, Ron (Elaine), and Marsha (Doug) and by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Ken was predeceased by his parents Samuel and Gertrude.

Ken was born on June 8, 1958 and was a lifelong resident of Winnipeg. Ken loved life and had so many passions, but his first priority was always to his family. He married Reesa (née Reinhorn) in June 1988 whom he shared the rest of his life with. Ken was the best husband and father. He doted on his family and always put everyone’s needs above his own. He loved to spend time with his family travelling, watching silly TV shows, attending his girls sporting events and just being with each other. He would make sure the family had supper together at least once a week, often accompanied by one of his Saskatoon pies. He never stopped providing advice and support, helping his daughters prepare for work papers, interviews, moves, and more. He was so proud of his daughters and marvelled as they grew into accomplished women.

Ken had so many hobbies. He loved to garden and he spent countless hours growing his vegetables, raspberries, roses and other flowers. Sunday mornings meant a hot cup of coffee, CBC radio and the New York Times Crossword Puzzle. Ken could do a crossword puzzle faster than seemed humanly possible. Ken was also a winemaker and produced a sweet red wine from grapes each year meticulously following his dad’s recipe. Research of the Tennenhouse Family Tree was another one of Ken’s endeavors which he spent years undertaking and managed to go back as far the 1700’s. Ken had a passion for history and archeology and had a library with numerous historical books. Ken was an avid Winnipeg Jets fan and never missed either attending or watching a game on TV. He spent countless hours discussing and dissecting the current state of the team.

Ken had an amazing professional career as a lawyer. He worked for 36 years at Manitoba Hydro. Ken started his career as an in-house counsel for Manitoba Hydro, he was then promoted to the head of the law department and then became the Vice-President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In 2016 Ken was named to the General Counsel Power list as one of the top 500 general counsel lawyers in Canada. Ken retired in 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed travelling to Palm Springs with Reesa over the cold winter months.

Funeral Services were held at the Chesed Shel Emes on March 2, 2025. Our heartfelt thanks to Rabbi Kliel Rose and Cantor Tracy Kasner who officiated the service.

Special thanks to all of Ken’s medical team including Dr. Green, Dr. Moltzan, Dr. Ogaranko, Dr. McClure and a very special thanks to Nurse Maureen at Riverview.

Pallbearers were: Jesse Searle, Josh Kimelman, Sam Kimelman, Martin Reinhorn, Arthur Reinhorn, and Leslie Reinhorn.

Donations in Ken’s name can be made to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, the Riverview Health Centre Foundation directed to 3E Palliative Care, or to a charity of your choice.

August 26, 1928 – February 16, 2025

It is with deep sorrow that the family of Alex Sommer announces the passing of our beloved father and Zaida. He lived a full and rich life of 96 and a half years. He passed with his granddaughter, Jordana, by his side.

Alex is survived by his spouse, Elaine, his children, Reena (Jeffrey), Naomi (Hart), Hillel (Marlaina), Caron, Martin (Michelle), and Gary (Pam), his grandchildren, Debra, Daniel (Sonya), Leah (Nik), Michael (Ashely), Josh (Abbie), Sarah (Emmy), Niki, David, Sarah (Justin), Jordana (Blake), Micah, Serina (Jason), Sierra, Joey (Leah), Benji (Brittany), Carli (Wil), Sonny, Mara (Benji), Cayli, Zac, Izzy, and Sam, and his great-grandchildren, Mikaela, Kendrick, Mila, Solly, Billie, Sid, Cameron, Addison, Elias, and Ari.

He was predeceased by his wife, Sarah, his parents, Fanny and Levi, his sisters, Rochelle and Norma, his son, Aaron, and his sons-in-law, David and Willy.

Alex grew up in the North End of Winnipeg and went to school at St. John’s High School. He spent his summer months in the Whiteshell at Seven Sisters Falls and Whitemouth and attended various Jewish summer camps.

As a youth and young adult, Alex became active in Young Judeah. There he met the love of his life, Sarah Rodberg, and they married on July 4, 1948, at the young ages of 18 and 19, respectively. As proud Zionists, the young couple planned to settle in the newly born State of Israel. To prepare for Kibbutz life, Alex went to study horticulture in Homestead, Florida.

But as plans changed, Alex joined his father’s custom furniture business. His role in the company was to head out on the road across western Canada to secure orders. This experience fostered his strong work ethic, and stick-with-it-ness that he passed down to his children and grandchildren. Ultimately, this small family business grew to become Century Craft Ltd., where quality furniture and fiberglass boats were manufactured until the late 1990s.

Alex and Sarah raised their four children, Reena, Naomi, Aaron and Hillel, in a traditional Jewish home, celebrating the Sabbath, and Jewish Holidays. Throughout the 1960s, Alex and his young family enjoyed spending the summer months at Clear Lake, Manitoba. On any given day at the beach, Alex could be found in the water letting his children and their friends dive from his shoulders into the water.

Alex supported Sarah’s creation of the Chai Folk Ensemble, and after her untimely death in 1969, took on the role of its first president, founding a board of directors, and creating an infrastructure that has allowed Chai to celebrate its 60th anniversary last year.

Alex navigated his life with resilience, integrity and inner strength. After Sarah died at age 40, Alex was left to raise his four children alone. In 1971, Alex married Elaine Weinberg, of Winnipeg, and raised her three children, Caron, Martin and Gary as his own. Alex always treated all seven children of his newly blended family as his own and counted all their offspring as his grandchildren. He embraced the role of grandfather so completely, that he became known by friends and family alike by the title “Zaida Alex”.

Alex was the consummate storyteller. He would tell, and often retell, stories about his exploits as a young prankster, of life on the road, and other tall tales, to his children and grandchildren. Yet, no matter how many times the story was retold, he always had a willing and captivated audience of family members anxious to hear the story again. He also had a unique lexicon, coining words such as “behbeh,” “Eneway”, “Sanawich,” and “Shmodicase.” He was famous for his “hugs that hurt,” and his “swingies” for his grandchildren.

Alex was known throughout the Winnipeg Jewish community for his smile and charm. He had a natural warmth and easy-going nature and could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was known as a man with the biggest heart and was always certain to tell those close to him how much he loved them.

Synagogue life was always an essential part of Alex’s life. Initially, he was an active member of the Rosh Pina Synagogue. In his later years, he attended shabbat services at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue and became an integral part of their synagogue community. During his many winter vacations in southeast Florida, he participated actively at Congregation Beth Torah in Aventura.

Alex has been a role model, compass, and guide as to how to meet life’s challenges with grace. When he faced multiple cancer diagnoses, he did so with strength. In his later years, as his health declined and his mobility became more impaired, Alex became dependent on personal caregivers, for virtually all activities of daily living and personal care. Despite his lost independence, he continued with his positive outlook and was able to navigate life on his own in his home.

Alex celebrated one day at a time and learned to appreciate the important things in life, his family. He constantly showed gratitude and love for his family. On any given day, when asked how he was doing, his response was “excellent”. Even in his final hours, Dad wasn’t willing to concede to his failing health or abandon his “look on the bright side of life” philosophy. After arriving to hospital by ambulance, hours before he passed, when asked by the emergency doctor how he was feeling, his response was “excellent”.

Alex’s family would like to extend their warmest thanks and respect to the team of wonderful caregivers and support staff at Home Instead. Over the past approximately 10 years, these wonderful caring individuals allowed Alex to remain in his home, which always gave him great pleasure. They allowed him to maintain his dignity and continue to participate actively in community and family lifecycle events. His quality of life was enhanced immeasurably by the care they provided.

We would also like to thank Dr. Sheldon Permack for his dedicated care over the last several years.

Alex’s funeral service was held at the Chesed Shel Emes on Wednesday February 19, officiated by Rabbi Matthew Leibl, followed by a burial service at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Daniel Golub, Debra Golub, Michael Knight, Blake Nichols, Justin Odwak, Micah Sommer, Emmy Uchendu, and Gary Weinberg.

November 2, 1942 – October 18, 2024

Michael passed peacefully on October 18, 2024, in Vancouver.

Michael was born in Toronto and raised in the north end of Winnipeg. He obtained both his Bachelor of Arts and his Master’s degrees from the University of Manitoba. Having been awarded a full scholarship, he completed his Ph.D. in philosophy in June of 1973 at Brown University in Providence, RI.

He returned to Winnipeg with his wife Catherine Stewart, better known as Kitty, to teach in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Manitoba. After 35 years as a professor, he and Kitty retired to Vancouver.

Michael was predeceased by his parents and his beloved twin brothers, Victor and John. He leaves to mourn his passing Kitty, his wife of 57 years, as well as many friends, former colleagues and students.

Michael was a brilliant man. Many considered him to be the most intelligent person they ever knew. He was also an outstanding professor. Those of us who had the privilege of being his student believed him to be by far the best of the best.

These are the things that Michael loved: Kitty, his friends, which included their friends and family members; action movies; science fiction; lunch at restaurants; dinner at restaurants; chocolate cake; baked char siu bao; t-shirts, many customized by Kitty; dumplings from Hon’s in Vancouver; cycling; swimming; The Big Bang Theory; holding court at Dim Sum Garden in Winnipeg every Saturday morning for many years; teaching; social justice; jokes, which more than often than not, had a punchline in another language (it never occurred to him that we weren’t nearing as clever as he was); bright students; pots and pots of tea and strong coffee; St. Michael and All Angels Day services (although he was raised as a secular Jew, he would never miss Mass on his Saint’s Day); Edinburgh; David Hume; Epicurus; and hot sauce on almost everything (except the chocolate cake).

Michael will be missed dearly by those who loved him. May he rest in peace.