Isabel Robinson Zastrow's Obituary
Isabelle Zastrow was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland September 9, 1925. Growing up, Isabelle and her four brothers and sisters first had to endure the Great Depression. Food and money were scarce during her early years, and even worse during World War II. On an April night during "The Blitz" of 1941 the German air force hit Belfast. At the age of fifteen Isabelle was working at a tobacco factory by day and dancing by night. It was there at a dance hall with her sisters and friends when the city exploded around them. It was too late to hide in an air raid shelter, so they huddled in the middle of the dance hall as the bombs shattered the windows and the lights went out. Isabelle and her sisters ran home past burning buildings to find their family safe. After the war ended, Isabelle and her entire family emigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States. It was in Tacoma where she met her soul mate, our father Joseph Zastrow (at a dance hall, and yes her two sisters were also there). In 1950 they married, and for 50 years, through thick and thin, they were constant companions. Our summers were spent camping at Carpenters Park with family and friends. Isabelle's passion was dancing with her husband every Saturday night. Joseph passed away in December 2000, and Isabelle died peacefully on November 25, 2010. Survivors are her brother, David Maxwell, daughters Shirley (Paul) and Kathleen (Eugene), and sons John Zastrow and Joseph Zastrow (Pamela); they had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at the South Tacoma Eagles Hall at 7037 South Pine, Tacoma on Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 4:00pm. Our family would like to thank Dr. Dehlinger for caring for our mom.
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