Bernice Coggan
Theater arts lover Bernice Coggan passed away on August 29, 2022. She was 95. A service was held Sept. 1 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovksy. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Mrs. Coggan, born in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 17, 1926, excelled at playing the accordion at a young age.
After her family moved from New York to El Paso, Texas during the Depression, Bernice played the instrument for US Army troops at Fort Bliss.
In 1949, after graduating from the College of Mines and Metallurgy (now the University of Texas at El Paso), Mrs. Coggan moved to Denver, where she met and married attorney Hyman Coggan. The two were a couple until Mr. Coggan’s passing in 1999.
“Hy and Bernice danced up a storm on their first date and at every opportunity after that,” her family said.
In Denver, Mrs. Coggan joined the Children’s Traveling Theater of the National Council for Jewish Women for nearly 60 years, well known for her roles as the Wicked Witch in the “Wizard of Oz” and the Evil Queen in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
She also sang with the Cher Amie Singers, where she had to learn to sing in Russian and Yiddish.
Survivors include children Hal, Sharon and Randi. Contributions may be made to Guiding Eyes for the Blind.
Charlene Engleberg
Charlene Engleberg died on June 18, 2022, at the age of 73. A service was held June 20 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Yaakov Chaitovsky and Cantor Martin Goldstein. Arrangements were made by Feldman Mortuary.
Mrs. Engleberg was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1949. She graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in psychology. In 1972 she married David Engleberg; they lived in Salt Lake City until moving to Denver.
In Denver, Mrs. Engleberg did extensive volunteer work at JEWISHcolorado and the Denver Academy of Torah.
“She was an avid reader, and a fastidious homemaker,” said Mr. Engleberg.
Survivors include her husband David; children Rachel (Yuval) Moskovich, Rebecca (Jacob) Garbawy, Leah (Ziv) Fourman and Louis (Elise) Engleberg; and 12 grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to National Jewish Health or Ramah of the Rockies.
Irwin Wagner
Businessman Irwin Wagner passed away on August 22, 2022, at the age of 85. A service was held August 25 at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Joseph Black and Cantor Elizabeth Sacks.
Mr. Wagner grew up in Chicago, Ill. After his Bar Mitzvah, he began to study Talmud with an Orthodox rabbi who arrived in Chicago after WW II. Mr. Wagner attended the Chicago Jewish Academy.
“He would have been happy as a Jewish or academic scholar, but going into business was the expected route for him to follow in those days,” the family said.
So, he did. Mr. Wagner was a partner at Arthur Anderson and founded Wagner Wealth Management.
Mr. Wagner and his wife Carol were married in December, 1957, and later moved to Denver.
“Irwin was a brilliant, wise and compassionate man,” his family said. “He listened with empathy and treated every person seriously and with respect, regardless of their age, position or occupation.
“He had a wonderful sense of humor and a kind heart.”
Survivors include wife Carol; children Susan Wagner, Gary (Aimee) Wagner and Ted (Nicole) Wagner; and six grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Temple Emanuel or Karis Community.
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