Nov. 23—WILKES-BARRE — Rabbi Larry Kaplan of Temple Israel succinctly summed up the late Saul Kranson.

"What an amazing life," Rabbi Kaplan said as he began his eulogy of the late Saul Kranson, who passed away early Sunday morning. He was 100 years old.

Rabbi Kaplan said Kranson built a clothing business renowned in the Wyoming Valley — and together with his wife, Jackie, who passed in 2014, built a family equally renowned in the valley.

"In fact, if I'm not mistaken, at least part of that family met because of the business," Kaplan said. "They had a kosher home together, they traveled the world and to Israel a number of times. They supported our first responders in this community and beyond."

Kaplan said Kranson came to this country from Lithuania "when Jews were the primary workers in the garment business."

Kaplan said, "When I was at a shul in Miami where many in the congregation were in that business, we used to have a Shabbat reserved just for them called Shamata Shabbat."

Kaplan said Kranson our country proudly and he enhanced the lives of countless people in our community.

"He was proud of his Jewish heritage and it was always a joy seeing him in shul," Kaplan said. "Jackie's smile and flair were memorable, and Saul doted on her. Sheila (Rosenthal, his most devoted caregiver and sister-in-law) has been his greatest supporter ever since Jackie left us. His card playing buddies have been close for years. Saul was always way younger than his years. And it is why at 100 years old his passing was still a shock to all who knew him."

Kaplan said while this Thanksgiving will be a sad one without Saul Kranson at the table, it's still a time to be thankful for the full life that Saul was granted by God.

"We're told that before we enter heaven, we can bring a few things with us to try and convince our creator to let us in," Kaplan said. "We can bring our Jewish heritage, all the years we spent in shul, all the bar and bat mitzvahs we attended, all the trips to Israel we took. But we can't take that into the gates with us. And we can bring our business, the things people bought from us, the joy we provided to them, but all that cannot enter through those gates with us. And of course we can bring our family and friends, but they also cannot come in with us. And after we leave all of that behind us, we walk through those gates, those Sha'arei Shamayim, only with the clothes on our backs. The Tachrichim, the shrouds of cloth we wear at the very end. In Saul's case maybe we should have had them tailored, but it's his soul, his kindness, his generosity, his smile that he brings into those gates."

Kaplan added, "Tehi Nishmato Tzrurah B'tzror HaChaim, may his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life. May he rest in peace. Amen."

At Kranson's funeral, Kaplan said two granddaughters spoke, Sheri and Melanie.

"Both spoke of his abounding love for his family and his extreme generosity," Kaplan said. "He loved his country, his family, and his Jewish tradition. Always joking with them, always a smile. A 66-year love affair with his wife Jackie. Always together, always smiling."

Kranson's obituary stated he immigrated to America at the age of 7 from Lithuania. He was the youngest of six children. He was an outstanding basketball player for Coughlin High School, leading the league in scoring in his senior year.

He was attending the University of Scranton, where he played basketball, until World War II broke out. He served overseas in the U.S. Army.

After the war, he had offers to attend other universities to further his education and basketball skills, but decided it was time to enter the work force, eventually joining his brother Harry in creating Kranson Clothes.

Kranson was briefly a member of the Wilkes-Barre Barons basketball team.

He was married to Jacqueline Rosenthal for 66 years until her passing in 2014.

He is survived by his sons Dr. Blair Kranson and his wife Elsie; Doug Kranson and his wife Darlene; grandchildren Michelle Richmond and her husband Geoffrey; Melanie Lee and her husband Guy; Sheri Petersen and her husband Leon; Ryan Kranson and his wife Jill; Kirk Kranson and his wife Katy; and Samantha Harris and her husband Joseph.

He is also survived by Sheila Rosenthal, his most devoted caregiver and sister-in-law, who without her care and diligence would not have been able to reach this milestone.

He had numerous great grandchildren who were his pride and joy.

His funeral was held on Tuesday at the Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, Wilkes-Barre, followed by interment in Temple Israel Cemetery, Swoyersville. Shiva was held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.