Bernard Joe Rosenfeld

SHREVEPORT, LA - Bernard Joe Rosenfeld is honored by family and friends for a long life of service and leadership in the local Jewish, art, and business communities. His wife of 71 years, Dorothy Schwartzberg Rosenfeld is a native Shreveporter, now residing in Conroe, Texas. Born August 4, 1922, in Rasaein, Lithuania to Feige Marcus Rosenfeld and Nathan I. Rosenfeld, Bernard passed away March 5, 2018, in Conroe, TX. He is survived by four daughters: Diane Kramer, Pittsburgh; Tina Gross, The Woodlands, Texas; Nancy Rosenfeld, San Diego; and, Shelley Rosenfeld, Martinez, California. He is survived by six grandsons: Scott Kramer, Sean Kramer, Jared Kramer, Joshua Gross, Jonathan Gross, and Ryan Daly and by seven great-grandchildren and also survived by three nephews in Israel: Natan, Rani, and Yossi. Bernard owned a fine ladies clothing and gift boutique store in Shreveport from 1966 to 1984, Southern Gifts and Fashion, a gathering place for long-time residents, visitors, and bridal registries. From his first self-taught painting in 1941 until his last in 2017, Bernard painted over 125 oil and acrylic landscapes, Judaica, family dogs, and travel memories. He exhibited in many shows at the airport, museums, and special events. Earlier in his life, through divine coincidences, Bernard left Lithuania alone in October 1939 at age 17 with notice that the borders were closing in three days due to war. The youngest of 6 children, he left behind all his family and departed for New York on the last transatlantic ship crossing. With synchronicity, he urgently raised money for passage by selling a radio he won as the grand prize in a raffle. He briefly lived in St. Louis, strongly missing his family, and was drafted in 1941 for WWII as a private in the US Army without being a US citizen, later becoming a citizen while stationed in England. He painted murals and portraits while in the Army, and assisted medics, including helping to transport deceased General George Patton in Germany. Bernard's long life included a relentless international search for any mention of 17 family members who were killed in Lithuania. He finally shared his emotionally raw story in 1987 in a manually typed memoir written for his wife and daughters. The manuscript contains many old photographs and was shared at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC where he was invited to speak in 1999 to a private audience about "survivor's guilt". A filmed interview by a TV producer was completed in 2009 in an effort for a documentary by PBS or film distribution. Bernard led a distinguished and successful life as a Lithuanian immigrant brought to the South by his new bride whom he met in St. Louis the day after he returned from the war in March 1946. He was driven by a passion of energy, creativity, and generous care for others. His self-taught artistry and business skills reflected talent and perseverance. He was devoted to his wife, family, and as a leader of Agudath Achim Synagogue. Funeral Services for Bernard will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 7, 2018, at Agudath Achim Synagogue, Shreveport, LA, with Cantor Neil Schwartz officiating. Interment will follow at Agudath Achim Cemetery, the corner of Walnut and Yale, Shreveport, LA. The family suggests memorials may be made to Agudath Achim Synagogue, 9401 Village Green Dr., Shreveport, LA 71115.