LOUIS RUBIN

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LOUIS RUBIN Louis Rubin, passed away peacefully in the early evening of March 8, 2016, surrounded by his family. Celebrating his memory are his wife of almost 60 years, Colette; his sons Jerry (Kim Hirt) and Les (Debby); his grandchildren Michael (Amanda), Shauna, Rachel and Bina; his great-grandchildren Ashton, Paige, Declan and Zeph; his sister Dorothy Karpf, his sister-in-law Betty Rubin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Louis was predeceased by his parents and numerous other family members during the Holocaust, and later by his sister Miriam Epstein, his brother-in-law Henry Karpf, and his brother Marvin Rubin. Louis was born on May 26, 1927 in Korolowka, Poland (now Ukraine) to Mina and Jacob Reibel, who owned the local lumberyard. The happy and peaceful times were brutally disrupted by the war, resulting in the death of Louis' father and forcing Louis, his mother, brother and sisters into hiding as part of a group of 38 Jews (including relatives, friends and neighbours). This group spent 344 days during 1943-1944 surviving many metres underground in the oppressive darkness of Priest's Grotto cave, the ninth longest cave in the world. Following the Soviet liberation of the area in April 1944, they emerged from the cave and wandered Europe looking for a safe haven. It was during this time that Louis and his siblings lost their mother to illness. The group's story, which is the longest recorded occurrence of underground human survival, was documented in the 2007 book "The Secret of Priest's Grotto" and the 2012 movie "No Place on Earth", a historical dramatization. In 1948, Louis, his brother Marvin and sister Dorothy, immigrated to Canada and found a new life in Winnipeg. His sister Miriam moved to Israel. In 1949, through his sister Dorothy, Louis met his future bride, Colette Spira, who had immigrated to Canada from France with her parents and brother after the war. Although Colette and her family moved to Montreal in 1951, Louis maintained a relationship with her over the next few years. Louis proposed to Colette while both were at his sister Dorothy's wedding in Philadelphia in June 1956. After a short engagement, they married in Winnipeg in August 1956. Louis supported his family by working in the fur business, first grading furs for Dominion Fur Auction Sales and eventually starting his own business, Universal Fur Company Ltd., buying furs from Canadian and American trappers and selling them to international buyers and local furriers. Louis worked to live and made sure to enjoy his time with his family, taking many summer road trips and engaging his sons in various building projects around the house. He was an avid reader and was particularly interested in the news and evolving world events. But his real passion was his ever-expanding flower garden which was the subject of admiration among family and friends alike. After retirement, Louis and Colette enjoyed winter vacations to Mexico and Florida before discovering the beauty of Hawaii, where they spent over a dozen happy winter escapes. Funeral services were held at Congregation Etz Chayim on March 10, 2016, officiated by Rabbi Larry Lander and Cantor Tracy Kasner Greaves. Special thanks to Rabbi Lander for his ongoing support during Louis' illness. The family also wishes to thank the pallbearers: Bruce Rubin, Sam Kimelman, Ben Hirt, Howard Jesierski, Ronald Reider and Matthew Lazar. Memorial donations may be made to the Jewish National Fund, Congregation Etz Chayim or the charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 02, 2016