obituaries
Attorney And Prosecutor
M
artin "Marty" Krohner, 67, of
Farmington Hills, died June 7,
2012.
A graduate of Michigan State
University and Detroit Mercy College of
Law, he was admitted to the bar in front
of the United States Supreme Court
and had just received a 40-year Service
Award from the Oakland County Bar
Association.
In 1982, Mr. Krohner founded the
Oakland County chapter of Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (MADD). He
acted as the state chapter's legal con-
sultant and testified before the State
Transportation and House Judiciary
committees. He played an active role in
the drafting of drunk driving legislation
and the Crime Victim's Rights Act.
Mr. Krohner was a Wayne County
prosecuting attorney from 1973 to 2000,
during which time he tried cases in
Wayne County's circuit, district and juve-
nile courts. Most recently, he practiced
Mr. Krohner was a member of the
in the areas of family law and criminal
Committee on Justice Policy Initiatives
defense. In his local municipality, Mr.
and a past member of a number of
Krohner was a member
committees for the Oakland
of the Farmington Hills
County Bar Association,
Crime Prevention Advisory
including the Meet the
Committee.
Lawyer program. He was also
He ran for Circuit
a member of Phi Delta Delta
Court Judge and Oakland
Law Fraternity International.
County Prosecutor in the
As a passionate Certified
1980s. He was a member
Master Gardener, he taught
of the Oakland County
and spoke to community
Bar Association and the
garden classes as a volunteer.
State Bar of Michigan
He was a longtime member
Representative Assembly, Martin Krohn er
of Temple Israel.
where he chaired the
Mr. Krohner is survived by
Hearings Committee.
his wife, Linda Laderman;
He was chair of the State Bar Standing son, Kevin Krohner of Venice, Calif.;
Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence,
daughter and son-in-law, Joanne and
co-chair of the Criminal Jurisprudence
David Bloom of Plymouth, Minn.; step-
and Practice Committee, a member of
son and stepdaughter-in-law, Tony and
the Committee on Justice Initiatives and Alison Packo of Sylvania, Ohio; brother
co-chair of the Criminal Issue Initiative. and sister-in-law, Dr. Robert and Karen
Krohner of Pittsburgh, Pa.; sister and
brother-in-law, Linda and Dr. Gary
Friedlaender of Woodbridge, Conn.;
grandchildren, Abby and Jacob Bloom,
Anthony and Annie Packo; loving aunts,
uncle, nieces and nephews.
He was the loving son of the late Faye
and the late Harry Krohner.
Contributions may be made to
Temple Israel, the I. and S. Pitt Israel
Scholarship Fund, 725 Walnut Lake
Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323;
American Friends of Magen David
Adorn (Dr. John Mames Chapter-
Michigan Region), 23215 Commerce
Park Road, Suite 306, Beachwood, Ohio
44122; or Michigan State University
("Gift in memory of Martin Krohner"
on the memo line), 535 Chestnut Road,
East Lansing, MI 48824. Interment was
held at Clover Hill Park Cemetery in
Birmingham. Arrangements by Hebrew
Memorial Chapel.
Top Auto
M
aurice "Larry" Stern, 91, died
June 10, 2012.
He was born in the east-
ern coal region of Pennsylvania. He
survived the attack on Pearl Harbor
while serving in the Army Air Force.
He migrated to Detroit after the ser-
vice, making Detroit his
home along with most
of his family.
Mr. Stern became one
of the city's top Chevrolet
salesmen at a time
when customers had a
product and personal
loyalty to brands and the
salesperson. He worked
at Grand River, Hanley
Dawson, Dexter and Joe
Maurice Ster n
May Chevrolet. His clien- c. 1952
tele consisted of famous
Detroiters as well as
everyday people. His talent lay in making
his customers feel that they were buying
a superior automobile and that buying
from him made their cars special.
Mr. Stern unsuccessfully attempted
to organize the auto salesmen into a
union in 1966 and 1967. He went to
work at Joe May Chevrolet when no
other dealer would hire him because
of his union involvement. There, he
teamed with another Detroit auto
sales legend named Harry Abrams
when they started an auto broker-
age and leasing firm known as H & L
52
June 21 - 2012
Leasing. This was a lease company at
the forefront of auto leasing before the
manufacturers discovered the benefits
of auto leasing.
He ended his career at Dexter
Chevrolet. Wherever Larry went in Metro
Detroit, he would meet customers who
would relay stories about
buying their first Chevrolet
from him or to simply tell a
story about a past purchase
of an automobile.
He was a master Mason,
being an active member
of Craftsmen, Oak Park
and the Berkley Masonic
Lodges as well as the
Shriners. He was a lifetime
member of B'nai B'rith. He
was devoted to his family.
He outlived his beloved
wife, Sarabel. He is survived
by his son, Bill (Judy); his grandchil-
dren, Rachel Matzkin-Bridger (Todd)
and Jeremy (Emily); great-grandchil-
dren, Ari and Talia Matzkin-Bridger; his
brother, Bernard.
Mr. Stern was the brother of the
late Daniel, the late Jerome, the late
Norman, the late Annabelle, the late
Mary and the late Ida.
Donations may be made to Hillel
Early Childhood Center or Alzheimer's
Foundation, www.alzfdn.org/
ContributetoAFA/makeadonation.html.
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.
Obituaries
B
everly Prentis Wagner, 88, of
nephews.
Bloomfield Hills, died June 14,
She was the beloved wife of the late
2012.
Cyril Wagner; the cherished mother of
She was the benefactor for count-
the late Walker H. "Wally" Straus Jr.;
less charitable organizations, most
the devoted daughter of the late Meyer
recently the Wagner Teen Center at the
and the late Anna Prentis; the loving
West Bloomfield Jewish
sister of the late Helen
Community Center. Her
Vera Lande, the late Jewell
other philanthropic endeav-
Prentis Morris and the late
ors include the Recreation
Barbara "Skippy" Prentis
Wing at the Oak Park Jewish
Morris; the dear sister-in-
Community Center, which
law of the late Lawrence
was named in memory of
Lande and the late Lester
her late son, Wally P. Straus;
Morris.
the Wally P. Straus Medical
Interment was at Clover
Clinic at Camp Tamarack;
Hill Park Cemetery.
and the Jewell Morris and
Contributions may be
Beverly P. Wagner Wing at
made to Temple Beth El,
Beverly Pre ntis Wagner
the Fleischman Residence.
Beverly and Cy Wagner
She was also president of the Prentis
Entertainment Fund, 7400 Telegraph,
Family Foundation.
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, www.
Mrs. Wagner is survived by her son
tbeonline.org; or the Jewish Community
and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Amy
Center of Oak Park, Wally P. Straus
Straus of Los Angeles; granddaughter,
Memorial Fund, A. Alfred Taubman
Sally Straus; brother-in-law, Marvin A.
Campus, 15110 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak
Frenkel; longtime caregiver and friend,
Park, MI 48237. Arrangements by Ira
Annette Wisehart; many nieces and
Kaufman Chapel.
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