Obituaries
DAVID ROSENBAUM
March 5, 1922 – November 7, 2018
It is with profound sadness we share that David Rosenbaum, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend passed away peacefully, after a short illness at Seven Oaks Hospital.
David was born in Pultusk, Poland. In his youth, he trained to become a Rabbi, but with WW2 having started he, his mother and his three siblings escaped into Russia, where he survived through his craft by making footwear and bartering shoes and sandals for food in Kazakhstan. After their mother, Esther died from illness, his sister Genya moved to Israel, while his brothers Harry and Jack moved to Winnipeg. While running ahead of the guns of war, he somehow ended up in the mountains of Austria, where he met his future life partner and wife, Margot. Eventually the family, including their son Harry, immigrated and settled in Winnipeg, where their daughter Ruth was born.
David worked for most of his life in the shoe manufacturing industry, where he started out as a shoe cutter at Canada West Shoes, which became the Greb Shoe Company. He later became a supervisor and manager and was instrumental in providing guidance in the development of what later became a new company. Dad valued his employees and always took the time to learn about them and their families. He strived for professional development, taking Business Administration at the University of Manitoba. David had a true love of learning which he passed onto his children.
David was community-minded, a member of B’nai B’rith, the Order of Foresters, the Freemasons, the Scottish Rite and the Khartum Shriners, where he rose to be President of the 101 Unit and a member of the Vintage Cars. He had also been appointed to the Divan of Khartum Shriners in 2012, by his son, who had been installed as the Potentate of Khartum Shriners. David was also a lifetime member of the Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue.
What was immediately apparent to all who were touched by this gentle, wise, patient, loving and unassuming man was the utter and unquestioning devotion he had for his soul mate and life partner of 75 years, Margot. Together, they built a life together that could only be described as a romantic fairytale. You rarely saw one without the other. It was magical to watch them walk hand-in hand together. To laugh together. To dance together. They had a special sparkle in their eyes that made their love for each other plain for all to see. Mom, could do no wrong and she was never, ever at fault, even if there was a doubt that she might have been. Dad was always ready to be her knight in shining armor, right to the very end, when his long sleep finally took away his shield.
As a father, David tried his best to provide for his family, shelter them and impart the strong moral ethics and menschlichkite that he lived by. He hoped that he could impart strong survivor skills to his son after what he himself experienced in the Holocaust. He worked to impart the importance of family, determination, personal strength and how we must be able to fight for justice in the world. David was so proud of Harry. He wanted to be the father that Harry could be proud of too. He enjoyed the genuine one on one conversations with Harry and the camaraderie they had as Shriners. David doted on his daughter Ruth, who was the diamond in his eyes and those eyes always shone brighter and clearer than any real stone ever could when she was in his presence. The invisible pride he emitted was unable to be measured, since she was that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, and he found it when she was born. Their father-daughter connection never ever faltered and never ever waned, and death will not eradicate it. An extra-special recognition is to be extended to his son-in-law, Allan Stargardter, for all the times he placed our father’s needs ahead of his own. May the Lord bless you for your kindness.
David leaves to mourn his loving wife Margot, his son, Harry Rosenbaum (Hope) and his daughter, Ruth Stargardter (Allan). He was blessed with five wonderful and devoted grandchildren, whom he adored and was adored by, being Trisha (James), Michael (Jennifer), Geoffrey (Robi), Matthew and Shawn and was proud of his six unbelievably special great-grandchildren; Ethan, Keira, Mya, Zoey, Nathan and Syeira. He was predeceased by his older brother, Harry Rosenbaum, his sister, Genya Asher and his sister-in-law, Evie Rosenbaum. He will be missed by family in Israel, New York and California. He will forever be missed by extended family members, countless friends and everyone privileged enough to have met him and had him in their lives.
Funeral services were officiated by Al Benarroch and Cantor Gerry Daien on November 9, 2018 at Chesed Shel Emes, with pallbearers being his grandchildren Trisha, Michael, Geoffrey, Matthew, Shawn and James. Honourary Pallbearers were Cantor Gerry Daien, Allan Keisler and Marshall Kneller. Internment took place at Hebrew Sick Cemetery. If you would like to honour David’s memory, donations can be made to the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre located at the Asper Jewish Community Campus, the Canadian Shriners Hospital in Montreal, or a charity of your choice. Special thanks to Dr. Kristin Heinrichs, Lisa Bonds, and the staff at Prairie Trails at the Oaks, Joyce, Jonathan and Abie at Seven Oaks Hospital, 5th Floor, Unit 6, for their exceptional care and compassion, Adeena Lungen at WJCFS, Marilyn Regiec, and the staff at Gwen Sector.
Life will never be the same without him. He truly taught us all the meaning of a life well lived.
Obituaries
BARBARA ELAINE WINESTOCK
Barbara Elaine Winestock, maiden name Block, was born on the 27th of May 1951 to parents, Hymie and Gertie Block. She grew up in Hodgson, Manitoba and then Winnipeg’s north end with her parents and younger sister Ava. In short, Barbara was chaos.
In 1980, she married Larry Winestock, who she had met only months prior. When they remembered their plane tickets, the two traveled around the world and when they remembered their luggage, they did so with clothing. They were chronically late, habitually unprepared and perpetually entertaining. Their love was sincere and their fights were like cats and dogs with rabies. Their family would be completed after years of trying to adopt, when they got the “once in a lifetime” opportunity twice, adopting Gabriel in 1989 and Bailey in 1992.
Barbara was so many things to so many people. She did so much throughout her life. She sold advertising spots for CKRC, she taught at the Rady Centre, she sewed, she gardened, she painted and so much more. She was loud, outgoing and made friends everywhere she went.
In 2019 she was diagnosed with brain cancer and given a prognosis of 11 months. This impending date was however not enough to overwhelm her aforementioned chronic lateness. She wouldn’t make this appointment for another six years. She beat it for so long.
Barbara passed away on September 21, 2025. Due to the impending holidays the funeral was held on the 22nd of September at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. We miss you Bobs.
Obituaries
KEVIN ROSEN
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Kevin Rosen, aged 54, on Thursday, December 18, 2025, following a determined and courageous battle with ALS. Kevin was the beloved son of Harvey Rosen (z”l) and Judy Goodman, loving husband of Judi Price-Rosen, devoted father of Emery, cherished brother of Pam, and special brother-in-law of Barbi and Jared Green. He was also the proud uncle of Stella, Jakob, Miranda and Micah, a treasured cousin, and a loyal friend to so many.
Kevin was born in Winnipeg and grew up in Garden City where he attended Talmud Torah, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1996 with an Honours degree in Commerce and soon after, headed to Toronto. It was there that he met the love of his life, Judi, and they married in 2000. Soon after their wedding, the newlyweds returned to Winnipeg to start their new life together. For 25 years, their love for each other remained unwavering and strong. Kevin’s calm demeanor and his remarkable ability to find humour in any situation helped them weather life’s challenges together.
In 2006, Judi and Kevin became a family with the birth of their son, Emery. Kevin’s greatest joy was being a dad and fatherhood came naturally to him. He parented with patience, empathy and gentle guidance. Whether it was watching cartoons and funny TikTok clips together, or a surprise trip to Toronto to take in a Blue Jays game, Kevin always made “father-son time” a priority.
Kevin had a long and successful career in marketing and communications that began in Toronto, and continued in Winnipeg at Gateway Publishing. Most of his employment experience was in higher education. He was hired as Marketing Manager at Red River College in 2004, and in 2012, reached the pinnacle of his career as Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Winnipeg. Kevin led with integrity and humility and genuinely cared about the people he supervised. He was respected and well-liked by his colleagues and many remained in close touch after his early retirement.
Kevin was also an avid runner who completed seven full marathons. For years, he had trained his body and mind to push through that last gruelling mile with tenacity and intense focus. Like his favorite movie hero Rocky Balboa, Kevin was built for an epic fight. Little did he know that in his case, the stakes would be so much higher. The fight of Kevin’s life – and for his life – began with a diagnosis of ALS just months before he turned 50.
ALS may have changed his life, but Kevin never let it define him. He remained fiercely independent, continued to nurture relationships with family and friends, and welcomed visitors with a playful smile, a joke, and incredible patience. Even after he lost the ability to speak, Kevin’s quirky sense of humor remained, shining through via text, his computerized surrogate voice, and that signature glint in his eyes.
He was kindness personified. A wonderful listener. Loyal. Thoughtful. Humble. A true mensch.
To paraphrase his late father, we all won the lottery of life for having had the privilege of knowing and loving Kevin Rosen.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many doctors, nurses and specialists involved in Kevin’s care: the staff at the Motor Neuron Clinic, his WRHA Palliative Care Team, Diana at the ALS Society of Manitoba, “Smoky” Lisa and Brenda. Sincere appreciation to Harsh, Maggie, Avya and Harleen who honoured Kevin’s dignity and provided companionship at the most difficult stage of his illness.
Donations in Kevin’s memory can be made to the ALS Society of Manitoba or the University of Winnipeg.
A Celebration of Life is planned for the spring of 2026.
Obituaries
ALAN LEVY
On January 6, Alan Levy, age 71, died at Grace Hospital with his wife and daughters by his side.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Alan spent his childhood in the North End and later moved to River Heights, where his family settled on Brock Street.
After studying in Winnipeg and Tel Aviv, Alan moved to Toronto, where he lived for over 30 years. It was in Toronto where he raised a family with his first wife, Sylvia Bashevkin, worked in public sector human resources and fell in love with Chinese food.
In 2017, after brief stints as an academic in Regina and Brandon, Alan moved back home to the Peg, where he spent many fulfilling years with his devoted wife of 20 years, Cheryl Karlinsky, and their loving dogs. In his later career, he was appointed to the Labour Relations Board of Canada where he served as a skilled adjudicator and proud Canadian.
Alan was endlessly proud of his family, daughters Dalia Levy and Aviva Levy (Adam Walman) of Toronto, and two grandsons, Jonah and Ethan.
Predeceased by his parents Sheldon and Audrey Levy (nee Myers) of Winnipeg, Alan was a dedicated news junkie with a sharp sense of humour. He thrived most when discussing current events, cracking jokes and debating geopolitical crises. Much to his family’s frustration, he would stay up all night glued to the news, and they’d wake up to endless articles he’d shared the night before.
Alan had an exceptionally strong spirit of generosity and focus on ‘tikkun olam’ – repairing the world, which lives on in his children and grandchildren. His family is grateful to the staff at Simkin for providing him with a phenomenal level of care over the last few years, especially Dr. Chung and Sara Reid, Assistant Director of Care. Special thanks to Paul, Victor and Almaze, his kind and patient caregivers.
The funeral took place at Chesed Shel Emes on January 8.
Donations in his memory can be made to The Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre https://www.simkincentre.ca.