Morris Garnek, a Holocaust survivor, passed away Oct. 25, 2015, two weeks before his 97th birthday, in Denver. Rabbi Bruce Dollin officiated at the Oct. 27 service at the HEA. Interment followed at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
He was a devoted and loving husband to Ida, his wife of 69 years, and a loving and supportive father and father-in-law, his family said. His priority was always providing for us.
He instilled his children with a love of Judaism and Jewish tradition. Attending Shabbat services with Ida at the HEA was the highlight of his week. A smart man, he always stressed the importance of education to his children.
He is remembered by many as a humble, gentle man a gitte neshuma.
Mr. Garnek was born Nov, 8, 1918, in Yadow, Poland to Shaya and Yehudit Garnek.
When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, he fled to the Soviet Union, where he survived the war along with his sister Chava working in labor camps. Mr. Garneks parents, grandparents and younger sister Sara perished in the Holocaust.
Mr. Garnek married Ida Kon on April 28, 1946. They went to a Displaced Persons camp in Salzburg, Austria, where their daughter Tilly was born.
The family came to the US in November, 1950 and settled in Cheyenne, Wyo. In 1951 they moved to Denvers old West Side, where Sam and Joe were born, and relocated to the East Side in 1971.
After working at factory jobs for several years, Mr. Garnek became a bar and restaurant owner in the 1960s. He retired from business in 1980.
He also was an early owner of the famed Blue Bonnet Restaurant until he sold it over 45 years ago.
Although he lived to an old age, his mind was lucid and his memory was excellent, the family says. He read the IJN every week and the Denver Post daily, and he was always eager to discuss current events.
He loved to sing and sang Yiddish songs almost every Friday night when the family came to his home for dinner. His quick wit and ever-present smile charmed everyone.
Mr. Garnek is survived by his wife Ida Garnek of Denver; daughter Tilly (Howard) Rollin of Centennial, sons Sam Garnek of Orange County, Calif., and Joe Garnek of Denver; and cousin Isaac Green of Denver.
Contributions may be made to the HEA or charity of choice.
Copyright © 2015 by the Intermountain Jewish News
