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Wintroub - Ernest B. , age 92 Years.
Ernie Wintroub passed away peacefully Monday March 1st surrounded lovingly by his devoted family. Ernest Bernard Wintroub was born in Omaha on March 23, 1917. He was the son of Joseph and Fanny Wintroub.
Ernie graduated from Central High School, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and UNL Law School. He was on a championship debate team at Central and as an adult established a scholarship in his coach's name. When Ernie was in school at both Central and UNL, he was the head cheer leader. Over the years he shared many stories of traveling at his own expense to cheer for NU at away games. After law school he joined the army and served during WW II in the quarter master corps as a Major in charge of a supply depot near London.
He married Janet Zien Urich on January 20, 1947 and together they purchased the Omaha Lace Laundry. Theirs was a partnership to dream of. They danced their way thru 60 fabulous years together playing, tennis, golf, meeting with their monthly bridge club and traveling to over 30 countries.
Ernie deeply believed in the importance of contributing to his community. As a result of his scouting experiences as a boy, he served on the Executive Committee of the Mid America Council of the Boy Scouts. He was Vice President of the Henry Monsky Chapter of B'nai Brith, Chairman of the Omaha Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Federation of Omaha, and President of Beth El Synagogue. He also volunteered with his wife for many years at the Blumkin home where he helped lead the weekly sing-a-long and provided an endowment.
He was most proud of his role as chairman of a subcommittee to determine how integration could be achieved in the Omaha schools. After the overall committee rejected his subcommittee's recommendations a federal judge ordered integration using the methods proposed by the subcommittee he chaired.
In 1965, after almost 20 years of running Omaha Lace Laundry, Ernie returned to the practice of law and had an active practice focused on discrimination law until his retirement in 1996. He was a highly ethical attorney. He
was known to send couples for counseling before he would agree to help them divorce. He was admitted for practice before the US Supreme Court. Last year at the age of 92 he was recognized as the oldest active member of the American Bar Association in Omaha.
Just 4 months ago he came out of retirement to file 3 appeals to challenge a decision that took away his own Medicare coverage while a resident at a nursing home. Ernie argued the third appeal by teleconference.The administrative law judge in California decided in his favor. The social worker at the home admitted that no one had ever had the stamina or persistence to file 3 appeals let alone to win.
Ernie is survived by his sons Bruce Wintroub (Marya), Frank Wintroub (Marji), John Wintroub, and daughter Beth Wintroub and her husband Tim Schabacker, He is also survived by his grandchildren Anne, Ben, Molly, Noah, Sam, John Gregory and great grandson Augie.
Date of Birth: March 23, 1917
Date of Death: March 1, 2010
Services: March 4, 2010 Thursday, 11:30 am at Beth El Synagogue, 14506 California St.
Additional Service Information: Memorials suggested to Janet Wintroub Sing-A-Long Endowment or a charity of your choice.  
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