Educator.
Born in Russia on 28 September 1888, son of Israel Kestenbaum (1863-1943) and Helen Kestenmaum (c1864-?), he accompanied his parents to Canada in 1895. By 1915, he had earned a BA degree and began teaching in rural Manitoba, where he served as Principal of Elkhorn School (1915-1916) and Swan River School (1916-1917).
In August 1917, he quit teaching to join the Canadian Bank of Commerce where he worked briefly at its Herbert [Saskatchewan] Branch before enlisting for military service two months later. He eventually returned to Manitoba and married Rose Kobrinsky (1898-1970) at Winnipeg on 4 September 1929. The couple had a daughter, Sheila Kesten Chisvin (1931-1996). He died on 30 August 1957 and was buried in the Regina Jewish Cemetery at Regina, Saskatchewan.
“Elkhorn School fair,” Manitoba Free Press, 20 October 1915, page 3.
1916 Canada census, Library and Archives Canada.
Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.
Marriage and death registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Engagement notices [Kesten - Chisvin], Winnipeg Free Press, 29 May 1954, page 19.
Obituary [Dr. Moris T. Kobrinsky], Winnipeg Free Press, 30 December 1961, page 27.
Obituary [Rose Kesten], Winnipeg Free Press, 17 January 1970, page 32.
Obituary [Joe Kesten], Winnipeg Free Press, 20 February 1992, page 37.
Winnipeg Surrogate Court Probate Books (ATG 0022A), Grant of Probate Y33 Folio 9 - Israel Kestenbaum, Archives of Manitoba.
Winnipeg Estate files (ATG 0025A), #32017 - Israel Kestenbaum, Archives of Manitoba.
Letters From The Front: The Canadian Bank of Commerce - Volume II, page 299.
Obituary [Sheila Kesten Chisvin], Winnipeg Free Press, 13 January 1996, page C10.
Solomon Kesten, FindAGrave.
We thank Darryl Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 7 July 2024
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