William Bernstein (1895-1968)

BERNSTEIN, ELLNER, MEYER, WEINGART

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 2/16/2020 at 17:08:26

W. Bernstein is dead at 73 in Iowa City. William Bernstein, 73, prominent Oskaloosa real estate owner and a leading businessman in the community, died at the Univesity Hospital at Iowa City, Thursday afternoon after an extended illness.
Mr. Bernstein had been engaged in the real estate business for some 40 years and one of his special interests was the purchase and rehabilitation of local homes and business buildings. He also actively engaged in farm land ownership and operation.
Through his efforts, hundreds of local properties have been rebuilt, altered, refinished and made attractive. His work did much to increase home ownership in Oskaloosa and many families acquired their own residences through his influences.
He had been a director of the Iowa Trust & Savings Bank since October, 1964, and had been actively identified with a number of Oskaloosa enterprises and community programs.
Mr. Bernstein was born in Oskaloosa, Feb. 12, 1895, son of Mr. and Mrs. Birch Bernstein. He attended Oskaloosa schools and was employed by the former Oskaloosa Traction & Light Co. before going into the real estate business here.
He was a member of the Oskaloosa Synagogue, Tri-Luminar Lodge No. 18, (A. F. & A. M.); Hiram Chapter No. 6, R. A.M. Zabud Council No. 2, R. & S. M., Oskaloosa; Valley Consistory of Davenport, and Kaaba Shrine Temple of Davenport, the Elks lodge and Oskaloosa Rotary Club.
He was married June 12, 1930, to Ruth Jacobson at Des Moines and she passed away Feb. 19, 1966.
Surviving are two sons, Martin of Oskaloosa, and Robert of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Mrs. Harold (Helen) Ellner of Richland, Wash.; four grandchildren; a brother, Ben Bernstein of Oskaloosa; and a sister, Mrs. Eva Meyer also of Oskaloosa.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Dunn's Funeral Home in Des Moines, with Rabbi Irvin Weingart of Des Moines in charge. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. Arrangements were handled by Garland Chapel of Oskaloosa.