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Paul Rifkin Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Paul Rifkin
Diane Drake
April 18, 2011
Janie Terry, Steve and Nichole Dan , Maria Hillary, David Stephanie, Jeremy and Dottie and Ada and friends.
I sit here and wonder What I should write. Yes me speechless for words. First though comes to mind MMMM...What a spectacular man. And how lucky I was to have Paul and all of you in my life. Thank you for giving me the oppurtunity to take care of him for the last 4 years. I know he is looking down on us all saying I am fine I am with the love of my life, Irene. And I know he doesn't want us to mourn well Butchie Baby you are missed by alot of people. The reason I believe is you have touch all of our hearts with your heart and wisdom. You started off as my patient but became so much more. A friend a father figure I miss you terribly.But I know that is not what you want so I am trying. I love you Paul. You loved your children so much. You were very proud of them including your grandchildren. If we could all be the man you were we would be so fortunate.
Thanking you for shaping me I will miss you very much but I will remember the things you tried to teach me and my friend I will see you one day again.
Love Diane Drake
xo
April 16, 2011
Janie,
Dorothy and I returned from Florida Thursday. Friday Tom, Butch's long time barber on 7th Street told me of your Dad's passing. Although I haven't seen your Dad in quite a while, I have many fond memories of him and Morris Rifkin & Sons. My Mom and Dad enjoyed their relationship with your parents very much. My brothers and I have many wonderful memories of your Dad as well. My Dad passed away in January of 2006. The Van Hoven family is thinking of you, Dan and Steve as you morn the loss of your Dad.
Ed and Dorothy Van Hoven
April 16, 2011
Janie,Steve,Dan,What times we had
hunting together. What nice service.peace
to all.
Bob and Peg Winship
Jack O'Connell
April 15, 2011
Janie, call me sometime and we can catch up.612-968-0127
Jack J. OConnell
Barbara Carroll
April 14, 2011
Janie, Steve and Dan,
I have fond memories of your Dad - he was a gentle and wonderful man. I'll never forget the night he drive me home from babysitting and ran over a telephone pole someone had placed across the street - it ruined his axle but he remained calm. It was great getting to know all of you way back then - wishing you all peace and good memories.
April 14, 2011
Dear Janie,Steve and Dan,
Our families go way back to when our sister, Mickey use to babysit when you were just kids! We'd run in to each other occasionally in the village or downtown at Frank Murphy's.
The Yarmo's (Karen, Neil and Paula)are so sorry for your loss.
Andy Bennett
April 14, 2011
Janie,
My deepest condolences to you and yours. Uncle Butch was a great man and will be missed very much! He and my father Joel Bennett are shooting Bluebills and Mallards with all the hunting buddies they have hunted with in the past. Once again our condolences.
Andy & Jill Bennett & Family
April 13, 2011
Please accept the Peterson family's condolences.
Butch was a treasure.
My family plans to be at the services in force, watch out.
Stu Peterson
Jud Pabst
April 13, 2011
Janie, Steve and Dan,
I still have many fond memories of "Uncle Butch". You guys were the best neighbors ever. Dad always said Butch and Irene were one of his best and truest friends.
Jud Pabst
April 13, 2011
Peace.
Mike & Bunny Grant
April 12, 2011
Janie, Steve, and Dan,
So sorry to read about Dad. I worked for Butch for 25 years and have so many fond memories of our relationship. I always felt I worked with the Rifkin's and not just for them. Know that you and your families are in our thoughts and prayers.
April 12, 2011
Janey,Im so sorry to hear about your father you know he was one of my favorite people at SBC my love to you a your family. Natalie Zanolli
Amy Arouni Peltz
April 11, 2011
I'm so very sorry to learn of Uncle Butch's passing, and I think I can speak for all of the Arouni kids when we say we loved him as a father. Some of my own fondest memories are those of spending time with Uncle Butch and the Rifkin kids. I also suspect that Butch is up in heaven with my dad and Bob Putnam shooting a little trap, hunting a few mallards, and catching some sunnies. I'll always remember him with love.
Steve Fenlon
April 11, 2011
Dear Rifkin Family,
I was deeply saddened when my Dad (Bob Fenlon) called yesterday and told me Butch had died, my Dad has so many extremely fond memories of his old buddy. For my part, I remember caddying for Butch many years ago and what a generous and kind spirit he possessed, just the type of person we can least afford to lose. Please know that he and your entire family are in our prayers.
Steve Fenlon
Hunting in Canada
John Putnam
April 11, 2011
Butch's passing leaves a huge hole in my heart. He was the very last of a group of hunters that gathered together several times each Fall to murder ducks and geese somewhere north of the Cities...preferably Canada. My dad, Bob introduced me to Butch when I was in diapers...literally.
I visited with Butch as recently as two months ago and he was seemingly healthy and still very vibrant, but my most fond memory is of a duck shoot in Drake, North Dakota right around my birthday in November many years ago. Butch and I had decided to take a last minute stab at the Northern Flight. The weather had been exceedingly mild and he didn't think they had come through yet. No one else wanted to make the long drive for nothing, so Butch and I went alone with his duck boat in the back of my pickup. (The local North Dakotans snidely asked if we were going fishin'.) We were standing in a far out field alongside a large creek in very balmy weather, both wondering why we had bothered. Heavy, dark clouds came in from nowhere in a huge rush, followed by an unbelievable amount of snow. (Butch later remarked that it reminded him of the Armistice Day storm that trapped a bunch of hunters many years ago....including my father.) I have never seen so many Mallards suddenly appear out of nowhere. Butch and I laid into them with a furry. I am not sure that I hit anything in the dense flying snow, but Butch knocked a big bunch of them down. I was having the hunt of a lifetime, but Butch screamed at me to go. I didn't want to, but the snow was building REALLY fast and our big Ford 250 four wheel just barely made it out of the field. We even hung it up in a snowdrift in town on our way to the duck cleaning lady's home and a snow grader had to pull us out.
The storm kept raging and Butch and I were forced to stay two more days before we could get shoveled out at the motel and on our way home. I had an unusual string of luck at gin rummy and waxed his a-- for two straight days....although Butch never seemed to remember that part of the trip!
Butch was ALWAYS smiling, happy, funny, generous and full of great stories and like with my own dad, I got to hear them many more times than once!
I will miss you terribly Butch.
John Putnam
Michael Blanchette, ARNP
April 11, 2011
To the Rifkin Family, It was an honor to participate in the care of your Dad. He was a very special and unique man who, I know, loved his family above all else. I am very grateful to have had the chance to know him and am ever so thankful that memorials in his name will allow us to continue to support and educate others at the Heart Failure Center. To "Butch", may you rest in peace and may the Perpetual Light always shine upon you and your family.
June, 2006
Barbara and Donn Osmon
April 10, 2011
We are going to miss Butch greatly. Even as we mourn his loss, we are grateful to have so many memories of good times together.
Barbara and Donn Osmon
Tori Jensen
April 10, 2011
I was so sorry to hear of Uncle Butch's passing. He and my father (Putnam) had lots of shooting and hunting stories to tell. What a great, good time they had. Last time I saw Uncle Butch was at my father's "going away" party. I will always remember him and Doc Arouni when I think of dad, which is daily. So sorry for your loss.
April 10, 2011
Dear Steve, Please accept our heartfelt condolences in the loss of your father. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. Thank you for the call to my brother, Joe told me your father. was the best boss he ever had. Joe's health will not allow him to attend the services. Love and peace. Tom Deneen (Faribault, MN)
Peter Pabst
April 10, 2011
The Pabst family send our heartfelt condolences at this time of loss. We have never forgotten having Uncle Butch and Aunt Irene and the Rifkin kids as our next-door neighbors on Eleanor many years ago. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Pete
April 10, 2011
Dear Steve, Please accept our sincere sympathy in the loss of your father. Your father is home in the arms of Our God. You and your family are in our prayers and thoughts. Thank You for the call to my father,it meant so much to him. I am sorry my father's health will not allow him to attend services.
Love and Peace, Pat Deneen (South St. Paul, MN)
April 10, 2011
Janie, Please accept my sincere sympathy in the loss of your father.Janie you may be assured that your father is in the arms of Our God and he has reached the ultimate happiness.You and your family our in my prayers and thoughts. Jack J. O'Connell (Ft. Lauderdale Fla.)
Peggy Kane
April 10, 2011
Ada, I'm so very sorry to learn of your brother's passing. May God heal your broken heart quickly.
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