Kerr (Karasik) Family
Pearl and Jacob Karasik came to Calgary in 1922 to join their daughter Chana and her husband Henry Belkin. They left two married sons and two married daughters in Russia.
Their youngest son Benny, who was 16, came with them. One of the daughters, Rosa, later came to Calgary with her husband Harry Kipnes.
Jacob opened a grocery store, called Farmer’s Grocery, at 721 – 2nd Avenue N.E., which he operated until his death in 1946. Pearl died in 1963.
Rose had four children: Edith, Albert, Arnold and Irving. She died in 1957.
Benny Kerr married the former Ethel Bell (Bellastotsky) and they had three sons: Allan, Morley and Alvin. For many years Benny worked with his father-in-law as a cattle buyer. In 1953 he opened his own meat wholesale, Kerr and Sons.
He retired c.1981 and he and Ethel moved to Vancouver, where they remained until she died in 1990. Benny then returned to Calgary, where he died just five months later.
Allan Kerr married Naomi Belkin and they have four children (see Belkin family) and five grandchildren. Allan left the meat business to open a travel agency in 1970, and has been involved in various aspects of the travel business since that time.
Morley Kerr remained in the meat business until his father retired. Since that time he has been involved in paper recycling. Morley married Eta Pearlman and they have three children: Sheryl (Brian Laughlin), Karen and Ian.
Alvin Kerr married Sally Greber. They live in Toronto and have two children: Shannon (Bryan Ortmanns) and Ryan.
