Justin Beno Rosenfeld

Justin Beno Rosenfeld October 20, 1920 - May 15, 2008 Justin Beno Rosenfeld of Waco passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 15, 2008 surrounded by his family. He was the owner of Rosenfeld Dairy, a dairy cattle business, since 1964. Services will be at 1 p.m., Sunday, May 18, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel with the Rabbi Mordecai Rotem and Rabbi Robert Loewy officiating. Burial will follow at Rodef Sholom Cemetery. Visitation will be from 12 Noon to 1 p.m. prior to service time at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. Justin was born October 20, 1920 in Oehringen, Germany, to Max and Rosa Rosenfeld. In his teens, he played on a Jewish semi-professional soccer team while serving as an apprentice at a leather factory. Justin's mother, Rosa, was instrumental in sensing what was happening in Germany in 1938 and recognizing that Justin must travel to America and find a way to get the rest of his family out. Reluctantly, he left on a ship for New York by himself in March of 1938. There he secured visas for his mother, sisters, Hilde and Liesel, and their families to immigrate to New York and ultimately, Waco, where he instructed them to stay. Justin moved to Waco in 1941 after working for three years in New York. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945 in the Intelligence Unit of the Third-Armored Division. When he returned from WWII, he became a partner in Hirsch Dairy, specializing in buying the selling Holstein cows. He married Ellen Kahn in 1950 in Chicago and they became the proud parents of three daughters, Lynn, Sue and Jo Ann. In 1964 Justin ventured into his own business, Rosenfeld Dairy, in Downsville. Justin was active in the Milk Producer's Association, serving as a board member from 1952-1985. As someone who lived out the American Dream, he took great pride in being a self-made man. He loved his community and thought Texas was the best place on earth. He served as Downsville Fire Department Treasurer for 27 years. He was a generous philanthropist donating to many local charities. In 2001 he changed the focus of his business and closed the dairy. At the age of 75, he chose to contract with owners of large dairies in Stephenville, Texas, to raise their heifers. In 2003 his grandson Keith Hanson began helping him run the business. Other than the dairy business, his interests were politics and sports. He was an avid Texas sports fan, especially of the Dallas Cowboys and the Mavericks as well as Baylor, Texas A&M and University of Texas teams. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Liesel Hirsch and Hilde Levy; his brother-in-laws, Louis Hirsch, Otto Levy, and Fred Markus; his nephew, Kurt Hirsch and his wife, Hannah Hirsch. Justin is survived by his wife, Ellen; his daughter, Lynn and husband, Bob Loewy, of New Orleans; daughter, Sue Hanson; and daughter, Jo Ann and husband, Steven Potashnick, of Chicago; grandchildren, Keith Hanson, Mendy Hanson, Penny Hanson, Sara Loewy, Mica Loewy, Samantha Potashnick, Jake Potashnick, Karen Loewy, David Widzer and David Loewy; four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Ruth Markus; nephews, Bernd Hirsch and wife, Gwen, Steve Markus, Richard Markus and niece, Sharon Markus. He also wanted to remember Shellavon Webb, his caretaker, who helped make him comfortable these last five months. He was also very appreciative of the care provided for two years by the nurses at Providence Hospital CHF Clinic. Pallbearers are Keith Hanson, Louis Hirsch, Nate Goldenberg, David Stodghill, Dr. Stanley Hersh, Steve Markus, Richard Markus, Steve Potashnick and David Loewy. Honorary pallbearers are David Hoppenstein, Eddie Lee Thompson, Ted Simpson, John Sheehy, Punkin Redding, John Weaver, Jim Lewis, Vince Neuhaus and Steve Meeks. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Temple Rodef Sholom or Congestive Heart Failure Clinic at Providence Hospital. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.