Zoorwill family history
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Descendants of Bennie
Descendants of Abraham (Ben) ancestry chart

Abram Baruch Zoorwill (changed legally to Bennie A.) was born 27 Nov. 1908 in Russia. Bennie died 24 Aug. 1983 in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of 74.Ben at his junior high graduation

*Ben at his junior high graduation.

NotesNotes for Bennie:

Bennie came to America with his mother and sister on the SS Chemnitz (Addendum 1A). When he got his Certificate of Citizenship it states, By order of the Court dated October 5, 1932, the name of the petitioner Abram Baruch Zuravel was changed to Bennie A Zoorwill. Ben went to a business college and worked as an accountant. He married Ida Bercovici in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Rabbis Home. She was born 7 Nov. 1911, she died 19 Sept. 1998. She is the daughter of Meyer Bercovici and Yetta SEGAL.
Abraham/Bennie's citizenship paper

Ben, Ida, and Sarita Zoorwill* Ben, Ida, and Sarita Zoorwill

Copy of Bennie and Ida's Ketubah, and an explanation of what a ketubah is.

Ben Zoorwill's obituary
Ben and Ida Zoorwill headstone
Above is Ben and Ida Zoorwill's headstones. His name in Hebrew is Avram Baruch ben reb David, hers is Chaya bat reb Meir and Yetta.

Elka and David with Ida, Bennie, Jeff, Pam and Laurie Cooper* Elka and David with Ida, Bennie, Jeff, Pam and Laurie Cooper. Love the plastic covered chair!

Known children of Bennie A. Zoorwill and Ida Bercovici are:

  • (f)  Sarita Zoorwill
  • (f)  Bette Elaine Zoorwill


Sarita Zoorwill was born 7 Jan. 1935 in Omaha Neb. She married David Cooper 15 March 1959.

Sarita Zoorwill* Sarita Zoorwill

cooper-family* Cooper Family
Sarita with girls* Sarita with daughters Amy and Felicia in front
Cooper kids* Cooper kids New Year 1970

Known children are:

  • (m)  Jeffery Scott Cooper
  • (f)  Felicia Cooper
  • (f)  Amy Cooper


Jeffery Cooper married Jennifer Dee Haddock June of 1991 in Omaha, Nebraska; they divorced.

Known child of Jeffery Cooper and Jennifer Dee Haddock is:

  • (f)  Julianna Marilee Cooper

Jeffery married Julie Lee Workman (Fahimi) in January of 1999.

Known children of Jeffery and Julie are:

  • (f)  Isabella Erica Cooper
  • (m)  Paul Martin Cooper

NOTES for Jeff:
Julie is a Critical Care Nurse. She has been involved with several surgical missions overseas with Operation Smile. Jeff is an Emergency Physician. He has been involved with Okinawan Karate since college. He served as a Diving and Submarine Medical Officer in the US Navy (1988-1992). He is involved with disaster and law enforcement medical support.

Aunt Esther with Felicia Renz, and Julianna and Isabella Cooper* Aunt Esther with Felicia Renz, and Julianna and Isabella Cooper


Felicia Cooper received a BS from the University of Iowa, Sigma Delta Tau. She married Scott Littky in 1990 in Omaha at Beth EL Synagogue.

Known children are:

  • (m)  Benjamin Michael Littky. Benjamin was stillborn
  • (f)  Sarah Rose Littky
  • (m)  Avi Benjamin Littky


Amy Cooper has a degree in teaching but does not like to teach so she works in another field. Amy and Kenneth Kahn had a son, Adam Cooper-Kahn.

Known child is:

  • (m)  Adam Cooper-Kahn

Amy married Paul M. Rabinovitz about 5 years ago. He has 2 children from a prior marriage, Katelyn E. Rabinovitz and Amanda M Rabinovitz:

  • (f)  Katelyn E. Rabinovitz
  • (f)  Amanda M Rabinovitz


Zoorwill family. Ben, David, Elka, Frieda holding Pam, Norman and Max Krizelman, and Dave Cooper with Bette in the front* Zoorwill family. Ben, David, Elka, Frieda holding Pam, Norman and Max Krizelman, and Dave Cooper with Bette in the front

Bette Elaine Zoorwill was born 25 June 1944 in Omaha, Neb. She married Raymond Zdan 31 Oct 1964. Notes for Bette: Ray is Catholic and Bette converted. Found her yearbook online.

Known children are:

  • (f)  Deborah Zdan. She married Timothy Jayce Fornstrom
  • (f)  Andrea Zdan
  • (f)  Ruth Zdan


Andrea Zdan married Ray Arvid Gregerson, Oct 1993.

Known children are:

  • (m)  Luke Ray Gregerson
  • (m)  Alex James Gregerson
  • (m)  Michael Andrew Gregerson

Notes: Andrea and Arvid adopted Michael in March of 2007. His birth name was Michael Clint Patrick and he as born in 1994 in Texas.


Ruth Zdan married Brent DeWayne Adkisson, Nov 1990.

Known children are:

  • (m)  Kye Alan Adkisson
  • (m)  Kane Patrick Adkisson
  • (m)  Collin Foster Adkisson

Bennie's clan at Las Vegas reunion* Bennie's clan at 2016 Las Vegas reunion


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Family members who are looking through the genealogy are encouraged to give input. If you have a much clearer understanding of dates, or names, please tell us. Or if you find an error, or if you wish to contribute photos, documents, notes or historical memories of some kind. Please contact Barry:
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