Obituaries
Saul Alpern
Saul (Jonas) Alpern of Winnipeg passed away peacefully on October 26, 2022, with his beloved wife Ida at his side.
Saul was born in 1930 in the Bukovina region of Romania. During the Holocaust, as recounted in his memoir No One Awaiting Me, he lost his parents, Isaac and Rosa Alpern, and his two older siblings, Shimon and Molly. Facing incredible hardships, including forced labour camps, death marches, hunger and cold, Saul was forced to beg and steal so that he and his younger brother, Avrum, could survive.
After the war, Avrum relocated to British-controlled Palestine, where he fell in the new State of Israel’s War of Independence. Saul also planned to move to Palestine and join the struggle to establish a Jewish state, but what began as a detour to Canada in 1948 turned into a permanent move.
Beginning in the early 1950s Saul built a successful career as a cattle dealer. In 1963 he married Ida (née Reiss), and they built a happy life together.
In 2001 Saul published his memoir, which won provincial and national awards and was translated to Hebrew by Yad Vashem. It is not only a gripping personal account of survival against all odds, but also a work of great historical importance, being one of the first books documenting the Nazi genocide in the Transnistria region.
Despite the enormous travails and personal loss that he had endured, Saul had a charming and jovial personality. He was loved by all who knew him. It gave him particular pleasure to help others, and to honour the memory of his parents and siblings, through very generous contributions to charities in Winnipeg and in Israel.
The funeral was held at the Rosh Pina Cemetery on October 28, 2022. Pallbearers were nephews Alan, Ken and Cary Reiss; great-nephews Noah and Charlie Reiss; and friend Nathan Wiseman.
Donations in memory of Saul may be made to the Ida and Saul Alpern Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba or to the Jewish National Fund.
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/
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.
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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