MICHAEL (MICKEY) LEO KLAPMAN

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MICHAEL (MICKEY) LEO KLAPMAN August 25, 1924 - June 22, 2007 It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our cherished husband, father, zaida, great-zaida, brother and uncle at the age of 83. Mickey was born in Canora, SK to Fanny and Joseph Klapman, and moved to Winnipeg at a very young age, growing up in Winnipeg's North End. His formal education was cut short after Grade 9, due to tough economic times, but Mickey never stopped learning and applying his many talents throughout his life and well into his senior years. He married his first sweetheart, Rita Winegratsky in 1943, and provided a vibrant, comfortable life for her and their three daughters, Shaaron, Lynn and Hilarie. He began his working life as an electrician, then moved into clothing manufacturing, and later became a consultant to aboriginal communities learning to establish their own industries. Other avenues took him to selling life insurance and running the cafeteria at Mid-West Garments with Rita. He had many hobbies and could build anything, fix anything and learn anything. Mickey has left little bits of himself with so many, whether it be one of his woodburning signs for their cottage, one of his very desirable lawn sprinklers, or one of his beautiful menorahs made of wood. We would be remiss if we did not mention his winemaking - providing the sweet wine for all of our family's life cycle events and all the Jewish holidays. He also loved to fish and family fishing stories abound from his boyhood to the present. He was a long time member and Past Master of Menorah Lodge No. 167, G.R.M. and a former president of the Winnipeg Hebrew Fraternal Lodge. Mickey was predeceased by his parents, Fanny and Joseph Klapman, his brother Max, halfbrothers, Meyer and Harry Klapman, and halfsisters, Esther Goffstein, Beverly Demsky and Esther Klapman. His is survived by his wife of 64 years Rita; daughters, Shaaron Weinstein and husband Hymie, Lynn Henoch and husband Morris, Hilarie Klapman and husband Guy Staughton; grandchildren, Tannis Weinstein and husband Dudi Afriat, Josh Weinstein and wife Brenlee Schacter, Jerrod Henoch and wife Mary, Seth Henoch, Ardith Henoch Bitton and husband Jon, Russell, Devin and Cory Staughton; great-grandsons, Itai, Noah and Dylan; his brother Sam Klapman and wife Ruth; sisters-in-law, Louise Gladstone, Sheila Spigelman, many adoring nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Mickey will be forever missed by family and friends and fondly remembered for his hearty laugh and his helpful ways. He was strong, sweet, honest and true. We are grateful that a man who had such passion for living life to its fullest, passed on without pain and suffering. Those desiring to make a donation in Mickey's memory can do so through The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba to the Rita and Mickey Klapman Fund, The Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, or the charity of their choice. Funeral services took place on Monday, June 25, 2007 at Etz Chayim Synagogue with interment at Rosh Pina Memorial Park. Pallbearers were grandsons, Josh Weinstein, Jerrod Henoch, Seth Henoch, Russell Staughton, Jon Bitton and brother Sam Klapman. Honorary pallbearers were nephews Hartley Klapman, Joey Klapman and Avery Spigelman

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 14, 2007