Thursday, Feb. 3, 2000 | 9:44 a.m.
It is tough to find kids born in the 1950s who can honestly admit they grew up in families like those portrayed in that era's syrupy sitcoms such as "Leave it to Beaver" and "Ozzie and Harriet."
But if you ask the children of June German, they'd say that June Cleaver, the kindly, supportive mom portrayed by Barbara Billingsley in "Leave it to Beaver," had nothing on their mother.
While June Cleaver had her hands full with sons Wally and the Beaver, June German raised twice as many children, who were born just seven years apart.
While June Cleaver was jobless and spent her days prancing around the house in high heels, June German not only organized a household but also ran a Jewish temple and operated her own catering service.
When Wally was old enough to go to college, June and Ward Cleaver did not have to worry about it because ABC canceled the show in 1963 after five seasons. June and Max German, however, were at one point putting all four of their children through college at the same time.
June German, the mother of longtime Las Vegas Sun columnist and senior investigative reporter Jeff German, died Wednesday at Summerlin Hospital from complications of an aneurysm. She was 69.
"My mother was the rock of the family -- she was our protector," eldest son Jeff said as he prepared to leave for Milwaukee where the services are to be held Friday at Temple Menorah, where his mother had been a longtime administrator.
"She was not only my mom but also my best friend and my biggest fan. She read everything I wrote and she watched me every time I was on TV. And it was not only me. She was proud of all of her children."
Another son, Jay German, is a vice president of a Milwaukee brokerage firm. A daughter, Julie Smith, is a Las Vegas bank executive and a mother of two. Another daughter, Jill Zwerg, is a Las Vegas mother of two and has a marketing degree.
"My mother always did things for her children first," said Julie, wife of Sun political cartoonist Mike Smith. "She was very unselfish, even in death. She had a living will that spelled out everything she wanted done. She did it so her children would not have to make such tough decisions when the time came."
Julie described her mother as "a political news junkie," who would spend time each day discussing current events with Mike Smith. She often agreed with the humorous or ironic points Smith makes in his nationally syndicated Sun cartoons.
Julie said that raising a family -- and doing it well -- somehow came easy to her mother.
"I know how difficult it is to raise two children, and I once asked my mom how she was able to raise four," Julie said. "She said it never seemed to be something that took a lot of effort. She was very organized and gave 120 percent to everything she did."
As for growing up in what sounded like a 1960s style television family, Julie said: "Yes, it really was that way in our home because Mom did it all."
Born June Kaplan on June 15, 1930, in Chicago, she was the only child of car salesman Sidney Kaplan and the former Ruth Weller, who long worked as a saleswoman in Milwaukee's upscale Hixon's clothing store. Weller survives her daughter and still is a resident of Milwaukee.
June's family moved to Pittsburgh and then to Milwaukee, where June graduated from Rufus King High School. She attended the University of Wisconsin.
June married Max German on Dec. 7, 1952, in Milwaukee. At the time, he was a music teacher but later became a meat wholesaler. Max survives his wife.
While running the temple, June decided to open June's Catering. Her biggest client became the Temple Menorah, which hired her to cater its functions.
After retiring three years ago, June and Max moved to Las Vegas to be close to three of their children and their four grandchildren.
"My mother worked all of her life, so she never had time for hobbies," Jeff said. "Her grandchildren became her hobby when she retired and moved here."
The family said donations can be made in June German's memory to Temple Menorah, 9363 N. 76th Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53223.
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