JACK PRESSMAN

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JACK PRESSMAN My father, Jack Pressman (formerly of Weyburn, SK) passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on January 23, 2011. The funeral was held at the Etz Chayim Synagogue January 25, 2011. We were so lucky to have had him with us for so many years as he was a wonderful man. Dad was truly well loved by all the Pressman, Searle, Shapera and Clark families. He cared for all of us unconditionally'. The Pressmans began homesteading in Camper, MB in 1913 until 1926. Dad started clerking at the age of 15 in a number of general stores in Manitoba, including Griswold, Shoal Lake, Rossburn, Crandell and Grandview with the hope of being his own boss one day and he did so - in Weyburn - 1947. No more lugging 100 pound sacks of flour and sugar up basement stairs. He took a hole-in-the-wall portion of a building and over the next 30 years enlarged the space and turned it into a first rate thriving Men's and Boys' Wear Clothing Store - Pressman's Style Shop of which he was quietly, yet extremely proud. Dad was respected by his customers, staff and suppliers alike. He always said that Weyburn was good to him but he was a great community citizen. He outfitted and sponsored young boys hockey teams and baseball teams and contributed prizes for 4-H clubs. He was an active and highly regarded member of the Weyburn Hospital Board, Chamber of Commerce, a Rotarian, a Mason and a Shriner. Dad married Sally Posovsky in 1935. My mother passed away in 1975 following a lengthy illness. Dad remarried in 1977 to Marguerite Beggs and she opened the world of travel for him, and travel they did . India, China, Kenya, South America, Scotland, Israel - until Marguerite passed away in 1991. Jean (Beggs) Clark and her son Brad from Vancouver attended Dad's funeral which was a tribute to the man who became Brad's and sister Kelly's Grandpa Jack. There were no ecumenical problems here ... Christmas and Easter in Vancouver and Passover, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipper in Winnipeg. Dad moved to Winnipeg in 1992. To his Searle / Shapera grandchildren, Zaida Jack was the one who had worked hard and had lived life to the fullest. Dad always said Time waits for no man . Dad also was a gardener, loved to dance, loved music. He was a symphony and opera goer and enjoyed singing Jewish Festival Songs. He liked to talk politics. He saw men and women as equals. He was a great baseball fan. My father was always impeccably dressed - no sweats for him. According to his eldest granddaughter Sharna, Zaida Jack was one cool dude with a great grasp of what life was all about. He was pragmatic, respectful, serious yet with a ready laugh and a wicked sense of humour. Jack Pressman's relationship with his sons-in-law Sam Searle and Gary Shapera was warm and gratifying. His grandchildren Sharna (David), Lorne (Barbara), Beverlee (Barry), Shayla (Glenn) and David (Karen) gave him much nachas. David Shapera, Dad's Winnipeg grandson, together with his family gave special attention to their Zaida. David even baked a cake for Dad on his 100th Birthday. And let us not forget Dad's extra dividend his eight great-grandchildren, Evan, Aaron, Jamie, Matthew, Gavin, Jordan, Eric and Gillian. Dad enjoyed his extended family, his nieces and nephews and their spouses and partners. Proudly Jewish, Dad supported many Jewish causes including the Hebrew University, Jewish National Fund, the then Rosh Pina Synagogue. He was kind, generous to a fault to his family, progressive, open-minded yet spoke his mind. Dad was predeceased by his parents Kayla and Harry; three brothers Morris, Lou and Al; sisters Lil and Fanny, and so sadly by his younger daughter Doreen Shapera. He is survived by his brother Max (Molly) and me, his daughter Betty Searle. As Dad needed more physical assistance, we are grateful to his long term, compassionate caregivers - both home care and private. Halina, Del, Germa, Chris, Linda / Julius, Louise, Gilda and Kathy, they were quite a team. Pallbearers were Sharna Searle, Beverlee Searle, David Shapera, David Pressman, Murray Gilfix and Greg Gilfix. Honorary pallbearers were Sam Searle, Gary Shapera, Lorne Searle and Gloria Cantor. Many thanks to Rabbi Lander, Shelly Sklover - Funeral Director, Etz Chayim staff and to many others for their caring and sympathies. My late sister Doreen and I were blessed with a loving father who had an amazing life span. Jack Pressman carried a positive attitude throughout his life. He will be truly missed by his very special friend Bertha Feldman. I will also miss him dearly. Lovingly Betty.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 19, 2011