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Obituaries

HARRY REISS

On Monday, July 3, 2023, at home, after a short illness, Harry Reiss passed away at the age of 93. He was the beloved husband of 55 years to Vicky Reiss (Shumsky), who predeceased
him, as did his parents, Ira and Raizel Reiss. He is survived by his children, Jeffrey, wife Marlis,
grandchildren Sheena, Anita, and Leanna; Alan; and Ken, wife Sonya, grandchildren
Chloe, Noah, and Charlie; younger siblings, Sam Reiss, Edward Reiss, and Ida Alpern; and his partner Honey Kowall.
Harry was born in Dunajow, Poland and escaped at age nine with his immediate family due to the growing threat of war and the Holocaust. They left Poland on the “Alaunia” of the Cunard White Star Line, eventually arriving in Halifax on April 16, 1939, then arriving by train to Winnipeg on April 19th, proceeding to Brooksby, Saskatchewan, before eventually settling on a farmstead in Edenbridge, SK, where Harry went to school and helped out on the farm. At age seventeen, due to financial reasons, Harry needed to leave school to find work and arrived in Winnipeg, working 70-hour weeks in a fur coat factory. In 1951, he went to New York City where he stayed with relatives to attend a 6-month course in Fur Designing & Fur Cutting at the Sol Vogel School of Designing. Upon his return to Winnipeg, Harry started his own business in the basement of his parents’ house (who had moved to Wpg. with his siblings earlier that year), sewing patterns and selling fur coats to department stores, in addition to bringing his father, uncle Joe, and brother Sam into the venture. Later, the business expanded first to James St. and later to the Bedford Building on McDermot & King, where it remained thereafter and known as Reiss Furs, engaged in both wholesale and retail sales. Over the years, Harry and his partner Sam, developed an extremely successful enterprise, becoming the largest furrier business in Western Canada, renowned for their high-end garments, with international celebrities and royalty amoungst their clientele. Indeed, they were the last independent furrier in Winnipeg, as eventually the marketplace was changing with less demand for fur coats. Ever the astute businessman, Harry had evolved the business into additionally involving retail sales of high-quality non-fur winter wear, as well as men’s and women’s fashion for some time. In the latter half of his career, Harry successfully expanded into the area of property management, acquiring a number of downtown Winnipeg buildings and parking lots. He continued with property management after the closing of his retail operations in 2008 and “semi-retiring” at nearly eighty years of age.
Harry started to date Vicky in 1956, with them marrying the following year. They enjoyed many happy years together, socializing with family and friends, and in later years looking forward to their winter vacations in Florida. Tragically, Vicky passed away after a brief illness in 2012, at the age of only 73. Fortunately for Harry, over the passage of years he developed a close relationship with Honey Kowall, leading to the two of them ultimately living together, and with him being warmly accepted into the Kowall family.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude for the compassionate care given to Harry by the healthcare-aides who assisted him in his later days, as well as the longstanding service of Judy Hansen.
Funeral services, officiated by Rabbi Kliel Rose, were held at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

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Obituaries

BERNARR IVAN KLAPMAN

Passed away November 12 in his home in Tampa.
Barry (as he was known) Klapman was a business leader in Winnipeg. After law school he went to work for his father, Meyer, who started Peerless Garments manufacturing company and grew the family business into one of the largest employers in Winnipeg. Barry loved boating and trips to Las Vegas with his family.
He is survived by his: wife Monique Landry; two children, Arla Klapman Green and Jason Klapman; daughter-in-law Sarah Klapman, and son-in law Stephen Green; sister Maxine Brownstone; niece and nephew, Lorrie and Danny Brownstone; as well as his four grandchildren, Charli, Myles, Miller, and Gabrielle. .
He lived his life to its fullest. Donations in Barry’s memory can be made to Brothers For Life https://www.brothersforlife.com/donate/

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Obituaries

BARRY POSNER

It is with deep sorrow that he family of Barry Posner announces his passing after a lengthy illness at the age of 75 on Monday, October 9, 2023.
Barry leaves behind his wife, Sharon; children, Adam (Christiane) and Daniel (Victoria); grandchildren, Jordan, Jade, Ari, and Zoey; brother, Murray; and nephew, Cort. Barry was predeceased by his parents, Alec and Claire, and his in-laws, Harry and Rose Borodkin.
Thank you to all the staff at St. Boniface E2 Medical Surgical Intensive Care Unit, especially Dr. Denira Govender and nurse Kaitlin for all of their kindness during this difficult time.
Funeral service was held graveside at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on Thursday, October 12, 2023. Our thanks to Rabbi Matthew Leibl for his beautiful eulogy and to the pallbearers: Cort Posner, Zeev Rafaeli, Joseph Gillies, Aaron Migie, Rod Gordon, and Stephen Dubienski.
Barry loved his family and friends. He had a great sense of humour and always made people laugh. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, son-in-law, brother, and uncle. Barry was so brave and courageous during the years of his illness. He will be forever missed and never forgotten.

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Obituaries

JOEL COOPERBAND

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Joel David Cooperband on Friday, October 6, 2023. Joel leaves behind his loving wife of 35 years, Cheryl, his gorgeous daughter Adeena, and his beautiful son Joshua. He also leaves behind his sister Reesa (Marty), brother Benjie (Adrienne), brother-in-law Monte (Stephanie), mother-in-law Shirley, along with nieces, nephews, and his uncle David Weinberg.
Additionally, he leaves behind his favourite fur babies, Jersey and Milo. Joel joins his dad Mickey, who passed February 1983, his mom Sandra – March 2018, and his father-in-law Phillip – December 2022.
Joel grew up in Garden City on Woodcrest and loved going to the family cottage at Winnipeg Beach. He worked at Silverman Jewellers and started Executive Jewels with his wife. They travelled across Western Canada setting up their wares but more importantly, enjoyed daily adventures together. Their children both worked with them. And they loved their lives. Family was his greatest passion. Josh chose a different path to take and Joel was so very proud of him. He would talk about him at every opportunity. Adeena was his sidekick, his buddy, his best friend. A huge hole in our hearts is felt by everyone who knew him. Funeral services took place at the Chesed Shel Emes with interment at Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on October 10, 2023. Shiva was private.
Joel was so appreciative of a second chance at life. Unfortunately, it didn’t last as long as we hoped. Until we meet again – beautiful soul.

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