Ilse E. Walters' Obituary
Ilse Erika Assmus Walters
April 9, 1928 – November 11, 2016
Beloved Omi and Mom, Ilse Walters, passed away on November 11, 2016 of pancreatic cancer. Ilse was born In Stettin, Germany to Alma and Erich Assmus. A refugee at the end of World War II, she lived first in England where she met her husband, Robert Walters, and then as an Air Force wife, lived in Clovis, New Mexico; Wiesbaden, Germany; and then finally Tacoma, Washington. Robert and Ilse were married 31 years and had three children - Erika, Heidi, and Ted. After Ilse retired from AAFES, she volunteered for the American Red Cross at Madigan Army Hospital, for which she received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and at the Retired Activities Office at McChord AFB.
Although a naturalized citizen, Ilse was unfailingly patriotic and loved her adopted country, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, her home and garden, swimming, and the Mariners. In her later years, she began swimming competitively at the State and National Senior Games, winning her first national medals for the breaststroke at 83, and a gold medal for the 200 yards breaststroke in 2015 at age 87.
Omi is survived by her daughters, Erika (Howard) Bowles, Heidi (Joseph) Myhre, grandchildren Jay Bowles, Chrissy (Zach) Berch, Pierce Myhre, Elise Myhre, McKenna (Dustin) Bamford, Aubrey Walters, and Amanda Walters, step son-in-law Mike Jackson, step grand-children Mike (Erin) Jackson and Mark (Ikuyo) Jackson, great-grandchildren Eli Berch and Aven Bamford and step great-grandchildren Cade, Colt, Clint, Kai , and Maya Jackson. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, son Ted, and stepdaughter Joyce (Mike) Jackson.
A Celebration of Ilse's life will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 20, 2017 in the Celebration of Life Center, Aspen Chapel with a reception to follow at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
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