In addition to the descendents listed below, Ben and Rachel may have had one and possibly two additional children. An unknown Nemenoff baby died on September 30, 1915 and is buried in Warsaw Cemetery in Forest Park, IL (gate 51, section 16B, grave 81). The grave is not marked with a stone, which could indicate that Rachel experienced a stillbirth. (At the time, it was common for rabbis to immediately inter a stillborn baby without a funeral, so the family could more quickly move on.) Research conducted by Judith Diamond found that Ben and Rachel lost a baby daughter in 1919. This may or may not be the same child. That they lost at least one infant has been confirmed by David, their youngest son.
Ben died in 1929, when he and Rachel’s youngest child, Eva, was only 7 or 8. Rachel, a poor immigrant, was left alone to raise her family through the Great Depression. She did, by all accounts, an exemplary job.
Back row, L-R: Martin (“Husky”), Irving, Jack, Sophie, Harry. Front row, L-R: Eva, Rachel, David. Look closely at Eva and Jack; their handwritten names can be seen across their chests. Ca. 1930-1932.
Back row, L-R: David, Eva, Irving, Sophie. Front row, L-R: Jack, Rachel, Harry, Martin (“Husky”). 1960, at the Bar Mitzvah of David’s son Brian.
L-R: Marc and Howie Nemenoff (sons of Jack and Sara), Brian Nemenoff (son of David and Sylvia), Barry Levin (son of Meyer and Sophie), and Bruce Nemenoff (son of Harry and Helen), with their Uncle Husky.
Descendents (listed in order of birth):
First child (spouse in parentheses): Harry (Helen), both deceased
Grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Bruce
Second child (spouse in parentheses): Jack/Jacob (Sara Ann Greenstein),both deceased
Grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Marc (Mary, divorced), Howie (Jana)
Great-grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Erica
Third child (spouse in parentheses): Isadore/Leizer/Irving a.k.a Izzy or Laze (for “Lazy”) (first spouse: Violet, divorced; second spouse: Louise), both deceased
Fourth child (spouse in parentheses): Sophie (Meyer Levin), both deceased
Grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Sandy (William Shatz,), Barry, deceased (first spouse: Joann)
Great-grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Jacqueline Shatz (Scott Kagan), Dana Shatz (Reid Walfor), Anthony Shatz, Michael, Daniel, Rachel, Jennifer
Fifth child (spouse in parentheses): Martin/Max a.k.a Husky, deceased
Sixth child (spouse in parentheses): David, deceased (Sylvia Greenholtz, deceased)
Grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Brian (first spouse: Leah Burrell, deceased, second spouse: Kathy Belsley), Marla (first spouse: Michael Tracy, divorced; second spouse: Frank Smith)
Great-grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Benjamin (Erin Nelson, divorced, Andrea Pesonen), Andrew (Shannon Heatley), MaryKate Leslie (Joshua Annin)
Great-great-grandchild: Lilly Irene (Parents: Benjamin and Andrea), Rachel Leandra (Parents: Benjamin and Erin), Alyssa Rose and Ethan David (Parents: Andrew and Shannon), Leslie Rose, Thomas Danks, and Claire Lynn (Parents: MaryKate and Joshua)
Seventh child (spouse in parentheses): Eve/Eva, deceased (Lawrence Kriesberg)
Grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): Barry, Kenneth (first spouse: unknown, divorced; second spouse: Connie)
Great-grandchildren (spouse in parentheses): unknown
Nemenoff Family History 