NOVEMBER 7 • 2024 | 47

OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY

HENRY BALBES, 98, of 
Bloomfield Hills, died 
Oct. 26, 2024.
He was the beloved 
husband of Peggy Balbes 
and the late Selma 
Balbes. He is survived by his chil-
dren, Craig and Tina, Xorin and 
Truman, and Barry and Pamela; 
grandchildren, Jenny and Eric 
Sweiden, Amy and Roman Morrow, 
Jordan and Emily Balbes, Alan and 
Eric Dritz, and Jake and Ali Balbes; 
great-grandchildren, Blake, Maddie, 
Cameron, Jayden, Teddy, Leo and 
Sosie. He is also survived by Peggy’s 
children and grandchildren, Andy 
(the late Dave), Max, Hannah Dow 
John and Raith, Ryann, Ian, Shane 
Jacobson, Patty and Kenny, and 
Spencer and Brett Robinson.
He was the loving brother of 
the late Monte Balbes. Interment 
was at Adat Shalom Memorial 
Park. Contributions may be made 
to Karmanos Cancer Foundation, 
4100 John R, Detroit, MI 48201, 
karmanos.org; or to a charity of 
one’s choice. Arrangements by Ira 
Kaufman Chapel.

ETHEL GERSTEN, 89, 
of Walled Lake, died 
Oct. 29, 2024. 
She is survived by 
her sons and daugh-
ters-in-law, Michael 
and Cindy Gersten, David and 
Lori Gersten; daughter, Adrienne 
Gersten; loving grandchildren, Dana 
(Freddy) Hortick, Jordan (Rebecca) 
Gersten and Carly (Melissa) Harris-
Gersten; adoring great-grandchil-
dren, Emerson, Everett, Mila, Ilan 
and Elliott; sister-in-law, Marilyn 
(Clifford) Weisberg; many loving 
nieces, nephews, other family mem-
bers and friends.
Ethel was the beloved wife of 
the late Philip Gersten; sister of 
the late Martin Bogorad, the late 
Herbie Bogorad and the late Annette 
Bensman. 
Interment was held at Adat 

Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in 
Livonia. Contributions may be made 
to the Zekelman Holocaust Center, 
the Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy 
Network or to a charity of one’s 
choice. Arrangements by Dorfman 
Chapel.

ALECIA HOLLAND, 
67, of White Lake, died 
Oct. 26, 2024. 
She is survived by her 
brother and sister-in-law, 
Mark and Francine Wise; 
uncles, Fred (Gail) Wax, Howard 
(Hindi) Wax; loving niece and neph-
ews, Richelle (Warren) Frankford, 
Erik (Jamie) Goodman, and Shaun 
(Janelle) Goodman; great-nieces and 
great-nephews, Ashlee and Mason 
Frankford, Rebekah, Cameron and 
Arabella Goodman, Makayla Gof, 
and Liliana and Braelyn Goodman. 
She is also survived by many special 
aunts, uncles and cousins, and many 
other loving family members and 
friends.
Alecia was the beloved wife of the 
late Joe Holland; mother of the late 
Shawn Heaslip; daughter of the late 
Marshall and Corinne Wise; niece 
of the late Sheldon (the late Donna) 
Wax.
Interment was held at the Adat 
Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery in 
Livonia. Contributions may be made 
to the American Heart Association 
or to a charity of one’s choice. 
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

WILLIAM ICIKSON, 
98, of West Bloomfield, 
died Oct. 21, 2024.
He is survived by his 
son and daughter-in-law, 
David and Lilly Icikson 
of New York, N.Y.; daughter and 
son-in-law, Leah and Richard Trosch 
of Franklin; grandchildren, Zachary 
and Deborah Trosch, Joshua 
Trosch, Benjamin Trosch and Sarah 
Marshall, Gabriel Icikson, Joseph 
Icikson; great-grandchildren, Talia 
Trosch, Kayla Trosch; many other 

loving relatives and friends. 
William was the beloved husband 
of the late Esther Icikson. 
Contributions may be made 
to Magen David Adom (Israel’s 
Emergency Medical Services 
System), mdais.org/en/donation; 
Jewish National Fund (Trees), 24100 
Chagrin Blvd., Suite 430, Cleveland, 
Ohio 44122. A funeral service 
was held at Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel. Interment took place at 
Nusach Hari Cemetery in Ferndale. 
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel.

FAY ISACKSON, 100, of 
Farmington Hills, died Oct. 24, 
2024.
She is survived by her daugh-
ters and sons-in-law, Ellen and 
Jeffrey Kottler, and Phyllis and 
Aharon Jeffrey Meer; son and 
daughter-in-law, Robert and Marla 
Isackson; grandchildren, Miriam 
and Yaacov Aharon Amzalak, Cary 
and Meredith Kottler, Tamar and 
Chanoch Hadar, Arielle Isackson, 
and Joshua Isackson; many 
great-grandchildren. She is also 
survived by her most special and 
dedicated caregiver, Elaine Johnson, 
and her staff.
Mrs. Isackson was the beloved 
wife of the late Charles Isackson; the 
loving sister of the late Sonia and 
the late Murray Jacobs, and the late 
Myron and the late Betty Dushkin; 
the devoted daughter of the late 
Helen and the late Max Dushkin.
Interment was at Adat Shalom 
Memorial Park. Contributions may 
be made to Hadassah, 40 Wall St., 
New York, NY 10005, 
hadassah.org; Jewish Braille Institute 
International, 110 E. 30th St., New 
York, NY 10016, jbilibrary.org/
donate-now; or Congregation Beth 
Shalom, 14601 W. Lincoln, Oak 
Park, MI 48237, 
congbethshalom.org. Arrangements 
by Ira Kaufman Chapel. 

DAVID KUSHMAR, 90, of West 
Bloomfield, died Oct. 26, 2024. 
He is survived by his sister, Janice 
Kushmar of West Bloomfield. He 
is also survived by Sandy and Walt 
Milke, Shirley Malamud, Sister 
Bonnie, Dalphine Lamb, Robert 
Sullivan and other loving friends.
David was the loving son of the late 
Harry and the late Dora Kushmar; 
dear brother of the late Marilyn 
Kushmar, the late Louis Kushmar, the 
late Martha Kushmar, the late Aneale 
Kushmar. 
Contributions may be made 
to Jewish Hospice & Chaplaincy 
Network, 6555 W
. Maple Road, West 
Bloomfield, Mi 48322; or Yad Ezra, 
2850 W
. 11 Mile Road, Berkley, MI 
48072. A graveside funeral was held 
at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale. 
Arrangements by Hebrew Memorial 
Chapel.

GEORGE LEIKIN, 80, of 
Bloomfield Hills, died 
Oct. 28, 2024. 
He is survived by his 
wife of 57 years, Celia 
Leikin; son and daugh-
ter-in-law, Andy and Karen Leikin; 
daughter and son-in-law, Ilyssa and 
Noel Cimmino; grandchildren, James 
Meyer, Levi Leikin, Isabella Cimmino 
and Jonah Cimmino. 
Mr. Leikin was the devoted son 
of the late Ezekiel and the late Bella 
Leikin; the loving son-in-law of the 
late Irv and the late Giglia Emmer. 
Interment was at Machpelah 
Cemetery. Contributions may be 
made to Magen David Adom, 
3175 Commercial Ave., Suite 101, 
Northbrook, IL 60062, afmda.org; 
Alzheimer’s Association-Greater 
Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph 
Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 
48033, alz.org/gmc; or Heart to Heart 
Hospice Foundation of Michigan, 
30600 Telegraph Road, Suite 
1131, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, 
htohhfoundation.org/donation. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman Chapel.

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