Sidney Koalkin

Sidney Koalkin of Sisters died on July 17. He was 93.

He was born in Gloversville, New York on May 14, 1912, to parents Bernard and Becky (Swersky) Koalkin. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York.

His father died when he was in high school and Sidney went to work immediately for Englander Spring and Bed. His World War II service in an Army Air Corps radar unit brought him to Sacramento, California, and he elected to stay in the West after his discharge.

He met Eleanor “Sunny” Price in 1956 and they were married in 1957 in Marin County, California, where they lived for 20 years. Sidney was a fine woodworker and he built houses, boats and furniture, a trade that continued long after his retirement.

After he retired, Sidney and Sunny traveled the United States and Canada for four years in a recreational vehicle, finally settling in the Sisters area in 1982.

Sidney continued to build houses, boats and furniture right up to 2004 and was well known to other tradesmen in the Sisters area.

He is survived by his wife Sunny; son Matt of Novato, California; daughter Sarah Persha of Bend and her husband David; grandsons David and Ben Persha of Bend.

A memorial service was held at the Persha home.

Remembrances may be made to MFS Savings Plan, Oregon State College Fund, Bank of the Cascades, in the names of David and Ben Persha.