Herman Kaplan

Herman Kaplan, formerly of Racine, Wisconsin, died in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 7, 2009. He was 93 years old.

He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Helen Brill Kaplan, and son Bobby Kaplan. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Sam and Robbin Hessa of Nashville; his son, B. Jay Kaplan of Little Rock, Arkansas. Other survivors include granddaughters Anna Nicole Hessa, Nashville, Tennessee, and Jennifer Brianna Kaplan, Little Rock, Arkansas. He is also survived by nephews and nieces, including Andrew Shovers, Atlanta, Georgia; and many dear friends in Racine and Nashville.

The oldest son of Ben and Minnie Kaplan, he was born, raised and educated in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he worked for the H. B. Prange Company. In the late 1930s he worked for the Federal government in Washington, D.C. He moved to Racine in the early 1940s to work in the defense industry.

On December 19, 1943, he married his beloved Helen Brill, daughter of the late Morris and Anna Brill of Racine. Following World War II he worked with his wife’s family in real estate.

In the early 1950s he founded the Herman Kaplan Agency, and operated the firm until his retirement in 2004, at the age of 89. Herman participated in many notable real estate transactions in Racine and Southern Wisconsin, and was widely known in the real estate community for his knowledge of investment properties and honest approach to business.

Outside of work he was known for his love of sports, especially baseball. As a young man he was a semi-pro first baseman on several teams, and continued his interest in baseball and later football throughout his life.

After the death of his beloved Helen in 2003, he retired to Nashville, Tennessee, to be closer to his family. His last years were filled with family, friends and leisure activities.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 11, 2009, at 1 p.m. at Beth Israel Sinai Temple, 944 Main St., with Rabbi Martyn Adelberg officiating. Interment will follow at Racine Jewish Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would deeply appreciate memorial donations to the American Heart Association or to the Jewish Family Service, 801 Percy Warner Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37205.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888