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The UP’s Jewish Soul

I

n March 1966, days after Shaarey
temple. He mentored several genera-
Zedek Rabbi Morris Adler tragi-
tions of student rabbis from Hebrew
cally died, the rabbi’s widow, Goldie,
Union College in Cincinnati who served
received a heartfelt letter of condolence
his congregation on a monthly basis.
from admirers of the rabbi in Ishpeming, In their absence, Bill acted as the lay
in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
rabbi and officiated at numerous life-
The letter writers, Bill Cohodas and
cycle occasions. He also edited the
his wife, Lois, praised the
Temple Bulletin, directed the
Shaarey Zedek program that,
religious school and taught
in 1948, offered a correspon-
confirmation classes.
dence study program for
Bill was passionate about
Jewish children in tiny, far-
ensuring that the message
flung Jewish communities.
of the Holocaust would be
Bill Cohodas used the
perpetuated and that bigotry
materials from Rabbi Adler
and prejudice would ulti-
to teach his 4-year-old
mately be overcome. He was
daughter, Lynn, and the
instrumental in introducing
opportunity spurred other
Holocaust education pro-
Bill Cohodas
Jewish parents to join him
grams in schools throughout
in Judaically educating
the Upper Peninsula. He
local children. Inspired by
also sponsored an interfaith
the process of teaching their kids, the
Holocaust Memorial Service, which has
parents realized the need for a syna-
been held annually for more than 40
gogue and built Temple Beth Sholom in
years in Marquette.
Ishpeming in 1953.
For many years, in his avid support
In the letter, the Cohodases also
of higher education, Bill traveled annu-
proudly reported that their daughter
ally to Jerusalem to attend the board
Lynn, now a young woman, was engaged meetings of the American Friends of
to marry a student rabbi who had visited the Hebrew University. While in Israel,
their little UP temple. “All this would
as an amateur biblical archaeologist, he
not have been possible had it not been
traversed the country to visit the sites of
for the foresight and generosity of Rabbi
new archaeological discoveries. He also
Adler.” The couple praised the rabbi’s
received an honorary doctorate from
outreach to distant Jews as “one of many Finlandia University in Hancock, Mich.
mitzvahs performed by Rabbi Adler …
Bill and Lois spent 30 winters in
which had not been publicized.”
Longboat Key, Fla., where they were
But most of all, it was Bill Cohodas’
active members of Temple Beth Israel.
constant efforts that caused the flame of He had married the former Lois Wenk
Judaism to flourish in the Ishpeming-
in 1939 and the couple shared almost
Marquette area.
eight decades of a remarkable mar-
Willard L. “Bill” Cohodas died on
riage. In a previous era, when mothers
July 7, 2016, at age 101 in San Antonio,
assumed the major responsibility for
Texas, where he had lived with Lois for
the day-to-day rearing of children, Bill
the past three years.
was a “hands-on” father and grandfa-
Bill was born in Menominee, Mich.
ther.
He spent the greater part of his life in
Bill Cohodas is survived by his wife,
the Upper Peninsula. For numerous
Lois; daughters, Lynn Cohodas (Rabbi
decades, he was a prominent business-
Samuel) Stahl, of San Antonio, and
man and civic leader in Ishpeming. He
Nancy Cohodas (Paul) Oberman, of
was an official of Cohodas Brothers and
Denver; four grandchildren and eight
the Michigan Financial Corporation,
great-grandchildren.
which was later acquired by Wells Fargo.
He was predeceased by his parents,
He was also an active member of Rotary Harry Cohodas, Lillian Levine Cohodas,
Club and a 32nd-degree Mason.
and Eve Cohn Cohodas; his brother,
Bill was one of the founders of the
Arnold Cohodas; and his sister, Heather
Ishpeming Cancer Society and an
Cohodas Frank.
avid supporter of Northern Michigan
Interment was at Moses Montefiore
University in Marquette and Bay Cliff
Cemetery in Marinette, Wis. Donations
Health Camp for children and adults with may be made to Temple Beth-El, 211
physical challenges on Lake Superior.
Belknap Place, San Antonio, Texas,
He was intensely proud of his Jewish
78212; or Bay Cliff Health Camp,
heritage and commissioned the noted
P.O. Box 310, Big Bay, MI 49808.
artist A. Raymond Katz to design
Arrangements by Swanson-Lundquist
exquisite stained glass windows for the
Funeral Home, Marquette.

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2113890

Lane Benjamin Lesko Z”L

The Lesko and Winkelman families have been overwhelmed

with the outpouring of sympathy and concern on the

untimely passing of our beloved Son and Grandson

Lane Benjamin Lesko. It is beyond our capacity to

acknowledge and individually thank the myriad friends

and organizations that have reached out to us, so we are

using this medium to extend our thanks to all.

One common thread in these condolences has been a sharing

that we are not alone in dealing with the mental illness that

took Lane from us. We hope that society can come to accept

that such problems are pervasive and should be openly

discussed, leading to better understanding and support

from the judicial, health and insurance institutions.

Pat and Marjorie Lesko

Betsy and Myron Winkelman

2112580

continued on page 54

Obituaries July 21 • 2016

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