Obituaries – Week of April 28, 2010

IN MEMORY OF…

Frances Gerber, died April 19, 2010. Beloved widow of Walter Gerber; dear mother of Diana G. (Michael A.) Iskiwitch and Nancee (Ron Compton) Gerber Compton; dear grandmother of Kelsey, Kirby and Emma Compton; dear sister of George Sidney (the late Sally) Lerman and the late Arnold (Louise) Lerman; our dear aunt, cousin and friend. Mrs. Gerber and her husband Walter founded Gerber Industries Inc. in 1954. In 1991, Mrs. Gerber was given the Distinguished Woman Entrepreneur Award by the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Along with the award, Mayor Vincent Schoemehl declared September 21, 1991 “Fran Gerber Day.” Mrs. Gerber was a member of Congregation Shaare Emeth and a financial mentor for the NCJW’s Wife-Widow-Woman program. Contributions to the American Technion Society or Congregation Shaare Emeth. Berger Memorial

Joanne Gilden, died April 17, 2010. Beloved mother of David Gilden of Austin, Texas, Nina (Ormond Seavey) Gilden Seavey of  Washington, D.C. Daniel (Alison  Fulmer) Gilden, M.D. of Portland, Ore. and the late Carey Wayne Gilden; dear grandmother of Josephine Iacarella, Aaron Louis, Eleanor Elisabeth and Caleb Nathaniel Seavey, Jacob Carey and Hannah Elizabeth Gilden; dear sister of Marcia Webb. Contributions to The Metropolitan Opera, Save the Met Broadcasts Campaign, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023. Berger Memorial

Jeffrey Craig Kolchinsky, died April 3, 2010 at the age of 56 in Prairie Village, KS. He was preceded in death by his father, Louis Kolchinsky. Husband of Melinda Kolchinsky for 31 years. Father of Alina Janelle Kolchinsky; son of Harriet Kolchinsky; brother and brother-in-law of Sherri and Bruce Tons, all of St. Louis; brother-in-law of Murlin Merrill and Linda Bohmbach of Lenexa, KS. Jeff was born and raised in St. Louis and attended the University of Kansas, Lawrence, where he earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design, a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering. He then settled in the Kansas City area. He was a partner in LNL Architects, Inc in Olathe from 1983 until 2003. He then established Kolchinsky Architects, Inc., also in Olathe. Jeff was awarded an Honorary Black Belt from the Great American TaeKwonDo Association. Jeff was an avid Jayhawk fan and loved to travel. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend who will be missed by all who knew him. Contributions to Paws for Freedom, www.pawsforfreedom.org or 10580 Barkley, Suite 455, Overland Park, KS 66212 or to the Solace House, www.solacehouse.org, 8012 State Line Road, Suite 202, Shawnee Mission, KS 66208.

Rabbi Bernard Lipnick, died April 20, 2010. Beloved husband of Harriet Lipnick; dear father of David (Becca), the late Daniel and Dr. Jesse (Corinne) Lipnick, Jayme (Mark Schwartz) Sophir, Mark (Nancy) Sophir and Tammy (Alan) Parry; dear grandfather of Joshua, Chaim and Dassie Lipnick, Emily and Rachel Schwartz, Michael and Abby Sophir, Marisa and Bennett Parry; dear brother of the late Jerome Lipnick and Len (the late Stan) Saulson; former brother-in-law of Joan (Rabbi Kassel) Lipnick Abelson; our dear uncle, cousin and friend. Contributions to the Rabbi Bernard Lipnick Foundation for the Conservative Movement, Congregation B’nai Amoona, 324 S. Mason Road, St. Louis, MO 63141. Berger Memorial

Rubin S. Ratkin, died April 14, 2010 at the age of 95 in Nashville, TN. Widower of Natalie Fisher; husband of Annette Levy Ratkin; father of Dr. Gary and Marilyn Ratkin of St. Louis, and Merriessa and Richard Anton of Austin, TX; grandfather of Shirra (Brandon) Hanna, Lane Anton of Austin, Kim (David) Dieffenbacher, Stephani (David) Becker of Wilmette, IL; great-grandfather of Ben, Maddie, Kate Dieffenbacher and Mira and Zachary Becker of Wilmette; step-father of Ralph and Randi Levy, David and Ellen Levy, Gail and Shawn Seibold and six step-grandchildren, all of Nashville. Rubin was a gentle man, who knew no strangers. A memorial service was held at The Temple in Nashville with burial in Austin. Contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Inc., 331 Great Circle Road, Nashville, TN 37228 or the Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson, Nashville, TN 37203.

Mildred N. Schnurman, died April 21, 2010. Beloved wife of Melvin Schnurman; dear mother of Barbara (Louis) Laurent and Marilyn (Henry) Daltrey; grandmother of Alexander Bosco; dear sister of the late William Hykins; dear sister-in-law of Beverly (Allen) Garber; dear aunt of Harold Garber and Marcia (Glenn) Figus; dear great aunt of Mindee and Michael Figus. Mrs. Schnurman was a teacher at Meramec School in Clayton for 22 years and a financial secretary of the JCA Auxiliary for 14 years. She was secretary of Omega Delta Pi Alumni and secretary of the Clayton Retired Teachers Group. Mrs. Schnurman taught Sunday school at Congregation Temple Israel for many years. Contributions of your choice preferred. Berger Memorial

Jenny Schwedt, died April 22, 2010. Beloved wife of Arnold H. Schwedt; dear mother of Norine (Alvin) Lever of Northbrook, IL and Stephen J. (Ava) Schwedt; dear grandmother of Daniel (Donna Crocetti) Lever and Michael (Bettina) Lever, Erica (Mitch) Lefkowitz and Todd (Emily) Schwedt; dear great-grandmother of Jack Lever, Lauren and Taylor Lefkowitz, Maya, Madeline and Julia Schwedt; our dear aunt, cousin and friend. Mrs. Schwedt was an active participant in local and national ballroom, square and round dancing groups for more than 50 years. Berger Memorial

Jane Sennett, died April 17, 2010. Beloved wife of A. Lowell Sennett; dear mother of David Sennett of Long Beach, CA, Laura (Bruce) Abrams, Martin (Theresa Cecil) Sennett of Lafayette, IN and Julie (Neil) Tzinberg; dear grandmother of Emily Schilmeister and Steven Schilmeister, Brendan Sennett and Dylan Sennett, Elizabeth Tzinberg, Benjamin Tzinberg, Michael Tzinberg and Andrew Tzinberg; dear sister of the late Mildred (the late Sol) Manning, Jerome (Karen) Mendelsohn and Elaine (Don) McIlheron; our dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin and friend. Mrs. Sennett was a former president of Temple Beth El in Munster, IN and Temple Emanuel in Sarasota, FL. Contributions to the American Heart Association, 11207 Blue Heron Blvd. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33716. Berger Memorial

Arthur H. Slonim, died April 18, 2010. Beloved husband of Marcia Slonim; dear father of Richard (Charlotte) Slonim; dear son of the late Moses J. “MJ” and the late Sophia Slonim; dear brother of the late William (the late Eleanor) Slonim, the late Leslie (the late Dorothy) Slonim and the late Dr. Balfour (Francisca) Slonim; our dear brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and friend. Berger Memorial

Joanne Weiss, died April 20, 2010. Beloved widow of Jonas B. Weiss; dear mother of Bonnie (Steve) Frank, Terry (Jennifer) Weiss, Randy (Andi) Weiss, Nicky Weiss and Dale Weiss; loving grandmother of Charlie and Sam Frank, Daniel and Whitney Weiss, Lauren and Stephen Weiss; our dear aunt, cousin and friend. Contributions to the American Cancer Society. Rindskopf-Roth

Esther Wishnuff, died April 17, 2010. Beloved widow of Henry Wishnuff and Sidney Cassel; dear mother and step- mother of Debra Cassel, Mark (Annie) Wishnuff and Jon (Ronel) Wishnuff; beloved sister of the late Laz (Lil) Lapin and Mickey (Sarah) Lapin; dear sister-in-law of Gloria (the late Bernard) Sirkin and the late Ann (Maury) Disner; our dear aunt, cousin and friend. Contributions to the cancer related charity of your choice. Rindskopf-Roth