Obituaries
THE HONOURABLE GUY J. KROFT
The Honourable Guy J. Kroft passed away on April 15, 2020.
He will be deeply missed and remembered with love by his wife of 64 years, Hester (nee Israels), his children Jonathan (Cara), Debbie (Morley), David (Ellen) and Sarah (Jeff), his grandchildren Daniel, Emily, Charles, Sally, Julia, Sam, Adam, Benjamin, Matthew and Joel, his brother Richard, sister-in-law Hillaine, his sister-in-law Renee and her husband Milton Bogoch and many nieces, nephews friends and colleagues.
Guy was a proud Winnipegger, Manitoban and Canadian. He was born in Winnipeg on May 27, 1934, the son of Charles and Heloise Kroft. He grew up on Ash and Oxford Streets. He went to Queenston School, Robert H. Smith School, Kelvin High School and the University of Manitoba, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Economics and his law degree.
Guy and Hester were childhood sweethearts. They grew up just blocks apart, attended the same schools in the same grade and attended the same university. They began a lifelong partnership when they married in 1956, a marriage that was clearly meant to be. Together they built a life and a loving family and they engaged as active members of the Winnipeg, Manitoba and Canadian communities.
In 1955 Guy began articling at the firm now known as Thompson, Dorfman, Sweatman LLP where he continued as an associate and a partner. He was named a Queen’s Counsel in 1978. In 1979, after a successful and fulfilling legal career, Guy was appointed as a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench. He was elevated to the Manitoba Court of Appeal in 1993 where he served until his retirement in 2007.
Although Guy travelled extensively over the years, he seemed happiest at our cottage at Falcon Lake, Manitoba. Together with Hester and surrounded by his family and many life-long friends, he built wonderful memories which we will continue to cherish.
Guy was a dedicated supporter and leader in the Winnipeg and Canadian general and Jewish communities.
Guy served as a bencher of the Law Society of Manitoba. He was an active participant and leader in federal and provincial politics, holding many leadership positions in the Liberal parties of Manitoba and Canada. He served as President of the Manitoba Division of the Red Cross, President of the Canadian Club of Winnipeg, a director of the Winnipeg Foundation and President of the Canadian Judges Conference.
Guy also devoted himself to the Jewish community. He was a founding member of the Canada-Israel Committee during the days of the Yom Kippur War, a board member of Jewish Child and Family Services, served for nearly 20 years as a member of the Executive of the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council (the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg) and ultimately as its President. He was a Vice-President of the Canadian Jewish Congress, President of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and Vice-President of the Canadian Council of Jewish Federations. He was recognized for his community commitment in 1988 as the honouree at the Jewish National Fund Negev Gala and received the Jewish Federation’s Sol Kanee Leadership Award in 2003.
Guy was a strong person and an anchor for his family and friends. He was a man who thought before he spoke. He knew how to listen and had the comforting and calm demeanor of a man who appreciated what he had. Those qualities made him a trusted confidant for those who knew him. He will be remembered as a kind, courteous, fair and intelligent man at home, on the bench and in his community.
Guy’s profound love and respect for Hester, his unbreakable bond with his brother Richard, and his deep love for his children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces were apparent to all who knew him.
The family would like to express its deep appreciation to all of the staff at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre, not only for taking care of Guy but also for caring for the entire family as it struggled to cope with Guy’s deteriorating health. We would like to especially thank nurses Brenda McGavin, Corinna Heieie and Sara Reid and caregivers Emile Genido, Gigi Galvez, J.R. Bernardo, Moises Acasta and Lawrence Robes for their wonderful care of Guy over the years.
A private service was held on April 19, 2020 attended by immediate family due to the requirements of social distancing in these unusual times of Covid 19.
Donations in Guy’s memory can be made to the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre, 1 Falcon Ridge Drive, Winnipeg, MB, R3Y 1V9, tel. 204-586-9781, the Guy and Hester Kroft fund at the Jewish Foundation of Winnipeg, 123 Doncaster Street, Suite C400, Winnipeg, MB, R3N 2B2, tel. 204-477-7525 or to a charity of your choice.
Obituaries
SALLY ANN NARR
Sally Ann Narr, born September 5, 1935, passed away peacefully on February 10, 2025, at the age of 89.
Sally was born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, and attended William Whyte school and later St. John’s Tech. At 18 years old, Sally bravely made the decision to leave her family and friends in Winnipeg, and head to Los Angeles, California where she hoped to pursue a career in Hollywood. After arriving in LA, Sally got a job working at Farmer’s Insurance, until she landed her dream job at Capitol Records at Hollywood and Vine.
Sally absolutely loved her job at Capitol Records and often found herself partying with some of the most famous celebrities.
At a New Year’s Eve party in 1958, Sally met the love of her life, Frank, and they were married the following year on December 12, 1959. Sally and Frank were married for 65 years and were overjoyed when they welcomed their daughter, Heather on October 1, 1965. It was in 1969, some years after the Watts Riot in LA that Sally and Frank made the decision to leave LA and return to Winnipeg to raise their daughter. Once back in Winnipeg, Sally and Frank resided in the West Kildonan area for 43 years until they bought a condo and moved to the south end of the city to be close to their daughter and grandchildren.
Sally lived a full and rich life. Some of her fondest memories were going on a Caribbean cruise for hers and Frank’s 50th wedding anniversary with her family, going to Hawaii for her 80th birthday, and attending her granddaughter’s wedding in 2019. Beyond all of this, Sally’s greatest joy in life was when her two grandchildren were born. She was overjoyed to become a grandmother and said it was the best job in the world.
It was shortly after the arrival of her first great-granddaughter in 2022 that Sally became a resident of the Simkin Centre, a place she would call home for almost three years until her passing. The staff treated her with the utmost care and respect and helped guide her family through her battle with Alzheimers and in the last few months of her life, cancer.
Sally’s quality of life would not have been what it was if it was not for her devoted caregiver, Oxana. From 2020 to 2025, Oxana provided wonderful care for Sally through her compassion and dedication and love for both Sally and Frank. There are not enough ways to thank Oxana for everything she did for Sally and her entire family over their five years together.
Sally was predeceased by her parents, Ann and Nicholas Dutkevich and is survived by her husband, Frank Narr, her daughter Heather Cantor (Ed), granddaughter, Lexi Cantor (Dan Robillard), her grandson Ryan Cantor, great-granddaughters, Parker and Blake and her brother Joey Dutkevich (Karen).
The family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer Association or the Simkin Centre in honour of Sally.
Obituaries
DR. ROBERT CORNE
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Robert Corne on February 5, 2025.
Dr. Corne was married to Irene (née Genser), for 66 years; father of Lesley Corne Wolman, (spouse-Jeff Wolman), Janet Corne, (spouse-Michael Katz), Maureen Slama, (spouse-Avi Slama), and Eric Corne, (spouse-Aimee Corne).
Grandfather of Ariel Slama, Yale Wolman (spouse-Ashlie Sapiro), Serena Wolman, Liav Slama, Neeve Slama, Ira Corne and Lilly Corne.
Born in 1936 in Winnipeg, Robert was the only child Hy and Yhetta Corne. He attended both River Heights Elementary School and Kelvin High School. He entered University of Manitoba Medical School at the age of 18, winning the Ibsen scholarship. He married Irene Genser in 1958.
In 1960, Robert, Irene, and daughter Lesley, moved to Rochester, Minnesota, where Robert was a Fellow in Internal Medicine (1960-63) and a Fellow in Cardiology (1963-64) at the Mayo Clinic. Robert’s research interest was in cardiac pathology and in 1964 he received a Master’s in Science from the University of Minnesota. In1964 the young family, now including daughters, Janet and Maureen, moved to San Francisco where Robert spent a year at the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California San Francisco. Robert became a fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a Diplomat of American Board of Internal Medicine, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Cardiology.
The family returned to Winnipeg in 1965 and Robert joined his uncle, Dr. Norman Corne and Dr. Mossy Lehmann in private practice for three years. In 1968, he joined the Faculty of Medicine in the department of Cardiology at University of Manitoba. For several years he worked with Dr. Frank Matthewson in a natural history study of cardiac disease in Canadian Air Force pilots whom they followed for over 30 years. Robert also pursued a special interest in heart disease in women.
In 1977 Robert was appointed as The Lady Davis Professor of Medicine at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the family, now including son, Eric, moved to Israel for the year. where Robert opened the department of Nuclear Cardiology at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. He was privileged to take part in the first heart scan in Israel and participated in a cardiac evaluation of Prime Minister Menachem Begin.
The Corne family returned to Winnipeg in 1978, and Robert became the co-Director of Nuclear Cardiology and Director of Cardiac Ambulatory Care at Health Sciences Center. Teaching was an exciting and rewarding part of his academic life, and he became a full Professor of Medicine at the University of Manitoba. His research has been published in both the American Heart Journal and The American Journal of Cardiology.
Robert’s volunteer commitments included a seat on the Board of the Winnipeg Chapter of Hebrew University and was instrumental in launching the Academic Affairs Initiative. He was the Governor of the Prairie Provinces of American College of Cardiology, a councilor of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and a Member of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association.
Despite his overwhelmingly numerous academic and professional achievements, he would say that his greatest accomplishment was his family: his four children and their spouses, eight grandchildren and sixty-six-year marriage to his beloved wife, Irene. He was a loving and caring husband, an exceptionally devoted father and an interested and involved grandfather who shared a unique relationship with each of his children and grandchildren. He was a loyal friend to many and a trusted colleague to all who worked alongside him.
Obituaries
EARL (ARIE) PERLMUTTER

We are saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend and cousin Arie Perlmutter at the age of 77. Arie died peacefully after a brief but difficult struggle with cancer on April 12, 2025.
He was predeceased by his parents, Hymie and Thelma and by his beloved sister Sheila.
Arie developed and maintained many close friends throughout his life. He attended St. John’s High in the 60s and kept in touch with many of his classmates. He began his working life as a delivery driver for City Bread. This was followed by a career of over 20 years at Advance Electronics, where he was a well-respected and expert sales associate. He hung out at North End Sals, for virtually his entire life, discussing (arguing? kibitzing?) with many people too numerous to name, the issues of the day but especially about sports, and most especially about baseball.
In his retired life, he was a member of Larters Golf Club, golfing with much enthusiasm and passion, if not prowess. Arie donated to and volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society for many years.
His family and friends would like to thank the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital whose compassionate and caring attention to Arie in his final days was truly a great comfort to him.
In keeping with Arie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no funeral will be held.
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