Leonard Jobrack Obituary (2007)

Leonard Jobrack, 88, formerly of Port Charlotte, Florida died Sunday, January 14, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio after a full and rich life. He was born June 5, 1918 in Newark, New Jersey. His family moved shortly afterward to a farm in the Catskill Mountains of New York, where Leonard attended a one-room schoolhouse, learned to ride horses and milk cows. When his family returned to Newark, he continued his education in the public schools and at the public library where he developed his life long love of things technical and electrical. During his long career, Leonard worked on everything electrical from household wiring to high voltage. He started his career as a teenager during the Depression. He first worked without pay at a radio shop in his neighborhood. He later apprenticed with an old electrician who nicknamed him “Golden Hands” for his skills. He retired in 1981 from the Newark, New Jersey Housing Authority, where he supervised a department of 40 electricians. During his active retirement, he continued to work on the electrical and sound systems of Temple Shalom in Port Charlotte. Leonard served in the 599th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion of the Army during World War II. During his service, he worked on sound and lighting the USO shows and met such entertainers as Bob Hope and Eddie Bracken . He checked the radio equipment on the Enola Gay and was one of the first to learn of the end of the war as he relayed the signal of the Japanese surrender. He was a life member of Temple Shalom of Port Charlotte, FL where he has served on the temple board. He belonged to the Jewish War Veterans Oskar Schindler Post 404, was a member of the Oriental Lodge of the Masons in New Jersey, and was a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America. Leonard was married for 53 years to Yetta (Bloom) Jobrack who passed away in 1998. He is survived by his wife Helen Jobrack, his daughter Avis Jobrack and her husband Lare Mischo of Edgewood ,Washington, his son Stewart Jobrack and wife Beverlee, of Centerburg Ohio, grandson John Mischo and his wife Deb, of Altadena California granddaughters Charlotte and Madeline Jobrack, brother Martin Jobrack of San Rafael California, sisters Reida Lipton of North Fort Myers, Florida , Ruth Abramowitz of Asbury Park, New Jersey, his wife Helen’s children Laura (Dean) Godown, Ed (Deborah) Huber, Mike (Carol) Huber, and Vickie Kolby as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral Services will be held Thursday January 18 2007 at Temple Shalom, 23190 Utica Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Rabbi Solomon Agin will officiate. Interment will follow in the Star of David Garden at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte FL. Shiva will be observed at the Jobrack residence at Kensington Place. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Shalom or to a charity of the donor’s choice.