Sheldon "Corky" Levin

Sheldon "Corky" Levin
Age 91, of Edina, Minnesota passed away on Saturday, August 9 comfortably in his home after a long, full life surrounded by his loved ones. Survived by his wife of 60 years, Delores Levin; daughter, Carrie Levin; son-in-law, Steve Freeman; grandchildren, Emma Freeman, Samantha Freeman, Asher Mintzer; and many loving nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Max Levin; brothers, Phillip Levin and Michael Levin; sister-in-law, Millie Levin; and many dear friends. Corky was born in North Minneapolis on April 22, 1934. Corky was the youngest of three boys, with older brothers Phillip and Michael paving the way ahead of their many adventures. After graduating North High, Corky attended the University of Minnesota, and earned a degree in Mathematics. After graduating, Corky lived in San Jose and worked at IBM in the burgeoning field of computer technology. There, he met his beloved, Delores Levin and the two married in California, then shortly after welcomed their daughter, Carrie Levin. Their family moved back to their home states of Minnesota, where he joined his brother Phillip to run their family business, American Fruit and Produce Co., which became widely successful and was eventually sold to Kraft. Always curious and with a desire to be informed about the world, he was a lifelong learner. Rather than ask his grandchildren the basic pleasantries, he would dive right in on asking their opinions on the news of the world that day. He had a wickedly clever mind and sense of humor; he loved riddles, puzzles, and a good play on words. He always asked questions, and listened deeply to your answers, even if he disagreed – which he often did! He held a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors. He maintained a beautiful garden in his home in Edina, which was frequently visited by butterflies, or as Corky called them, "flutter-bys". He taught his daughter and granddaughters to have a love for animals. Their family favorites were searching for the local alligator "Stumpy" in Naples, Florida, keeping up with the adventures of Koko the gorilla, and, most recently, gently teasing Corky for sneaking food under the table to his grand-dog, Teddy. Last, Corky and Delores have been deeply committed to giving back throughout their lives, generously supporting numerous charities and organizations, and leaving a lasting impact on the communities they cared for. Corky served as president of the Minnesota Jewish Federation, along with extensive leadership roles throughout his life in the Jewish community. Funeral service 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 12 at Temple Israel Synagogue, 2323 Fremont Ave. S., Minneapolis, with burial to follow. A Shiva will take place at 5:30 p.m. back at Temple Israel. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to your favorite charity in Corky's honor.