Shayna Toba Lerer "Tobey" Lewkowsky Obituary (1921 - 2010)

Shayna Toba (Tobey) Lewkowsky, 89, Kansas City, MO passed away Monday, August 23, 2010 at her home. Funeral services 1:30pm Wednesday August 25 at Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Ave. Burial Kehilath Israel Blue Ridge Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers, the family suggests contributions to Omega Health Care, 3171 NE Carnegie Dr., Lee’s Summit, MO 64064, Home Delivered Meals, Mid-America Regional Council Aging Dept., 600 Broadway, Suite 200, KCMO 64105 0r Jewish Family Services, c/o Help@home, 5801 W. 115th St, Suite 103, Overland Park, KS 66211. Mrs. Lewkowsky, a Holocaust survivor, was born in Sierpc, Poland. Tobey, at age 15, during World War II was forced with her family out of her home by the Nazis. The Lerer family wandered many months and ended up in the town where Tobey’s future husband, Morty, was born. The young lovers were separated and forced into Soviet labor camps. However, they were able to keep in touch for nearly 4 years. Tobey was able to marry Morty after he escaped the labor camp and located Tobey and her family in Kazachstan. They married nine days after being reunited on March 9, 1944, Purim. Tobey was preceded in death by her parents Ruven and Sarah Lerer; eight brothers and three sisters. She is survived by husband of 66 years, Morty Lewkowsky, of the home; son and daughter-in-law: Izzy and Kay Lewkowsky, Bonner Springs, KS; daughters and son-in-law: Riva Lewis, Kansas City, MO, Judy and Michael Teal, Tulsa, OK; brother and sister-in-law: Naftali and Regina Lehrer, Valhalla, NY; grandchildren: Erik Lewis, Shelley Lewis, Adam (Lyndsey) Lewkowsky, Kerry (Nick) Hawkins, Kacey (Corinne) Oldham, Sarah (David) Glasser, Jonathan (Laura) Teal; great-grandchildren: Erika, Phoenix and Amara Lewis, Samuel and Joseph Glasser and soon to arrive great-granddaughter Teal. The family would like to say a special thanks to Dr. Alexander Davis and Karen, Susie and other staff at Omega Hospice with whom we formed a special “sisterhood.”