It is with great sadness and sorrow that we announce the passing of Joe Erenberg on June 3, 2017, at the age of 97, at the Simkin Centre in Winnipeg, with his family by his side.
Our father was the beloved husband of 64 years to our mother Anne and the loving father of Marlene, Barry and Shari. He was devoted zaida (grandfather) of Carly, Brenlee, Marni, Karen, Debbie, Hailey and Alanna and great-grandfather to Alaina, Aiden and Jeremy.
He was predeceased by his father Max and his mother Sarah Leah, his wife Anne, his brother Morry, his granddaughter Marni and niece Brina. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in Winnipeg, Canada.
Pallbearers were Howie Schwartz, Daniel Cormier, Yale Gilbert, Reuven Erenberg, David Erenberg and Noah Erenberg.
Dad was born in Mariupol, Ukraine. He immigrated with his family to Winnipeg when he was just four years old, and like the majority of Eastern European Jewish immigrants, home became Winnipeg’s north end.
Dad’s career began in 1939 as an apprentice at Tadman’s drug store on the corner of Redwood and Salter in the north end of Winnipeg. His duties at first were to keep the floors sparkling clean as well as to operate the soda bar where he acquired the reputation of making the tastiest milkshakes in the north end as well as some pretty mean sundaes and banana splits. Once or twice a month, summer and winter, Dad would get on his trusted bicycle and deliver cigarettes, stamps and soft drinks to Canada Packers five miles away.
Dad’s first official job in pharmacy was as a salesman for Horner Drug Company. He went on to become assistant pharmacist at Winnipeg General Hospital (Health Sciences Centre). In 1952 he opened his own pharmacy in the Osborne Medical Building called Professional Pharmacy. And in addition, in 1962 he became the Chief Pharmacist at the Concordia Hospital.
Dad retired in 1995.
During Dad’s career he was honoured by the Pharmaceutical Association for being a pharmacist for 50 years. He was also recognized by the Manitoba Medical Association for being the first pharmacy in Manitoba not to sell cigarettes.
Dad got to know all his customers personally and had many lasting friendships even after his retirement. Dad’s true passion was his family; to Dad, family was everything. He was a devoted son to his mother and father and often checked in on them on his way home from work. To know him was to love him.
Everyone who knew Dad knew there was something special about him; even people who had just met him were immediately taken in by his big, brown eyes, his sense of humour, his sharpness of mind, his kindness and gentle demeanor. Dad was a very humble man. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for his family. He was so easy to talk to; you could share any problem or concern with Dad and he always made himself available to do anything to help.
Dad was a man with very strong morals and principles who held onto old fashioned values throughout his lifetime. His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss his wisdom and caring and loving ways.
Dad will always be remembered and forever revered for his compassion for people, his love of life and his unconditional love for his family. We will miss the feeling we got when he entered a room. We will miss his smile and the pride we felt in just being his children.
The family would like to thank Claire Caraan, his caregiver, for her caring and devotion to Dad in his final days.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Anne and Joe Erenberg Fund in care of Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, 123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3N 2B2, (204) 477-7520.
