ALLAN ZELICKSON

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ALLAN ZELICKSON It is with great sorrow we said goodbye to our father and Zaida Allan Zelickson on Saturday, December 20, 2014. Quietly in his room at the Simkin Centre with his children at his side Dad passed away at 93 years of age. Allan was predeceased by Marian, his lifelong friend and wife of over 67 years. Dad was a veteran of the Second World War where he served in the RCAF as a wireless operator. In years to come he used his skills to educate his grandson Michael in Morse code. Upon his return to Winnipeg after the war Dad and Mom married and he began working at Midwest Radio. A few years later he began his career for the Provincial Government in the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the late 70s he was instrumental in bringing personalized licence plates to the Province of Manitoba. You could always spot Dad's car with his iconic "Z" plate. Upon his retirement in 1983 he was gifted with a set of carving tools which allowed him to craft many pieces which remain as his legacy with his children and grandchildren. Dad had a beautiful bass voice. He combined his love of liturgical music with his gift and sang in the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue choir for over 52 years. In 1970 he organized over 50 singers and family members to attend the Zimriyah song festival in Israel. To this day he is known as "Uncle Al" (the kiddies pal) by the young people of the choir. An avid sports fan, as of this past summer Dad, was proud to say he had been to all three Winnipeg football stadiums! He and Mom enjoyed their season tickets to the Goldeyes. Left with wonderful memories are his daughters Louise (Lorne) Raber and Elaine (Harvey) Gamer (Long Beach, CA), and his adoring grandchildren Michael Gamer (Helen) London, England, Daniel Gamer (Kim) San Diego, CA and Lindsay Raber-Adams (Brian), Anchorage, AK. Thank you to Cantor Mass for the beautiful and stirring musical tribute to Dad. We also thank the staff and volunteers at the Simkin Centre especially Weinberg 3 for their professional care, love and respect over the last 10 months. To his devoted companion Dolor Natividad, we all say thank you for adding comfort to his days. Dad was buried next to his beloved Marian at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on December 22. His pallbearers were his grandchildren and his "nephew" Jordan Vine and close family friend David Lipnowski. Honorary pallbearers were his dear cousins, Eleanor Burke, Dr. Morris Burke and Myer Thompson. "With a Song in our Hearts"

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 10, 2015