Herman Feldman

Herman Feldman died on July 16, 2010 in Tulsa, OK, of congestive heart failure. Born July 26, 1918, in Tulsa, OK, he was the second of three children of Robert and Gussie Feldman. Herman studied briefly at The Ohio State University and The University of Tulsa. While running his father's farm near Inola, KS, he met his beloved Tillie through a mutual friend. They had been married for 64 years when she died in 2005. He entered Tillie's family clothing business chain, Litwin's Department Stores, and opened a new store in Atchison, KS, in 1946. Together, Herman and Tillie reared three children and contributed to the community. While also succeeding in business, Herman pursued his avocation of expanding educational opportunities. He served on the boards of the local library and the public school system. He was a founding member of the vocational-technical school board, and was the first Jewish member elected to serve on the board of the local Catholic,Benedictine College, where his service was honored by its Board of Governors. He was active in Kiwanis and in interfaith initiatives in the community. In later years, Herman resumed playing the violin, with a chamber ensemble, and took ccreativ writing classes at Benedictine College. He was a devoted husband of a devoted wife. By the way Herman lived his life, he demonstrated how business and ethics can be practiced as one and the same. He lived so that he had no regrets for any choices made. As a father, Herman always had time for his children. He was particularly proud that they each completed college and an advanced degree. His entire adult life, he told nearly every customer, every visitor, every tourist, every stranger with a child to read to that child, as reading is the key to the future. His four grandsons amazed their "Papa Herman". He loved having them visit all together, in Atchison each summer, without their parents. He and "Mimi" enjoyed reading and playing with the boys, and nurturing the friendships that blossomed among brothers and cousins in their grandparents' home. As their grandsons matured into the adults he hoped and dreamed they would become, Herman felt his life was truly fulfilled. Herman and Tillie retired to Tulsa in 1996, to be close to family. Herman quickly became involved in the Tulsa community, volunteering and auditing college courses. He enjoyed being an active member of Temple Israel and attending cultural events. Herman is survived by his son Ron Feldman and wife, Gloria Leitner, of Arlington, MA; his daughter and her husband, Barbara and Bill Gefen, of Tulsa, OK, and their sons and families, Daniel and Roxana Geffen of Washington, D.C. (and their children: Lucy, Felix and Simon), and Ben and Maria Geffen of New York, NY (and their children: Andre and Paulina); and his daughter and her husband, Janet and Ken Werker, of Vancouver, BC, Canda, and their sons and wives, Greg and Kim Werker of Vancouver, BC, Canada, and Eric and Alana Werker of Toronto, ON, Canada/Cambridge, MA. Herman is also survived by his very close brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Nancy Feldman, of Tulsa, OK,; his sister-in-law Roz Litwin of St. Louis, MO; brother-in-law Leon Litwin of Overland Park, KS; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and their extended families, all of whom he loved dearly. Herman's wishes were honored to end his days in the comfort of his own home at the Tulsa Jewish Retirement Center, with caring and supportive staff, excellent caregivers, and the assistance of Tulsa Jewish Hospice. A funeral service will be held at Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place, Tulsa, on Sunday, July 18, 2010, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org, or the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center, www.tjrhcc.org. Fitzgerald Ivy Chapel, 585-1151.

Herman Feldman

July 26, 1918 - July 16, 2010