Gordon Joseph Zastrow and Viola Minnie Peik

Back

Gordon Joseph Zastrow Born: August 1, 1907 in Elton, Wisconsin Died: August 30, 1985 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin Father: Herman Carl August Zastrow Mother: Barbara Servi	Gordon and Viola-January 29, 1930
Viola Minnie Peik Born: December 27, 1910 Died: 1993 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin Father: Frederick Joachim Peik Mother: Ida Behlow Marriage: January 29, 1930 St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Hilbert, Wisconsin by Rev. R.E. Heschke
Children: 8 Children
Family Stories: Gordon Zastrow was the oldest child to Herman and Barbra Zastrow. He had two older half brothers, Alfred "Shorty" who later lived with he and Viola and Otto, who died very young. Also a half sister Mabel who also died young. The family moved from Elton, Wisconsin where Gordon was born, to Greenleaf/Morrison area of Wisconsin in Brown County where he grew up. After their marriage in 1930 and not being an avid farmer, he began working for Kohler Company in Kohler, Wisconsin commuting each week. He enjoyed smoking his pipe, taking care of his lawn, which he kept meticulous and after he retired he fixed up an old farm wagon, painted it and filled it with flowers. He really enjoyed this hobby. Viola was the oldest of three daughters born to Fred and Ida Peik. She grew up in the Chilton area of Wisconsin. In their early marriage she took care of the children and the farm while Gordon worked at Kohler. Once they moved to Sheboygan, she worked for many years as a shoe stitcher for the Leverenz Shoe Company in Sheboygan, WI. There was always a bounty of good cooking at the table and her specialties were German Potato Salad and Wilted Lettuce Salad. The cookie drawer was always full and no one could resist her Ribbon Cookies at Christmas time. She loved to tat and after she retired she took up ceramics at the Senior Center. On Sundays the children and grandchildren gathered at their home for "brats and hamburgers", and other dinner fixin's. The men watched the "Green Bay Packer game" and the women played card games or talked, always keeping an eye on the many grandkids running around. As for the times in which they lived, Gordon and Viola grew up during WWI and the roaring 20's. They began their life together at the beginning of the Great Depression and were in the midst of raising their family during WWII. They started their lives with horse and buggy, and Viola always enjoyed telling the story about how she taught her Dad how to drive thier first car. I'm sure she appreciated like all the wives of the day as one by one modern conveniences replaced time consuming housework. The later part of the century is marked with the Korean, Vietnam and Cold Wars, the craziness of the 60's and 70's but also the prosperity that came with those times. Being avid sports fans there was also the golden era of the Green Bay Packers in the 60's, although Gordon enjoyed getting his kids "riled", and always said he was rooting for the "other" team!!! With 8 children and 22 grandchildren the house was always full and as the years went along and grandchildren married the family gatherings become quite large. But the more the merrier for them. At one point the children wrote stories of their life with their Mom and Dad and here are some excerpts: Memories from the Children Grandchildren Remember Sheboygan Press February 4, 1930 Wedding Announcement August 21, 1958 Trip to California January 22, 1975 45th Wedding Anniversary Some of Viola's Recipes German Potato Salad Wilted Lettuce Salad Ribbon Cookies Beer Batter Fruit Cocktail Cake Veggie Dip Scalloped Potatoes Sherried Beef Cabbage Salad
Documentations: 1910 United States Census-Gordon-age 2 1920 United States Census- Viola-age9 1930 United States Census NOTE: Mabel and Herman are siblings from a previous marriage Funeral: Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sheboygan, Wisconsin Burial: Greenlawn Memorial Cemetary Sheboygan, Wisconsin Internet Langlade County Birth Index- Gordon 1901 Langlade County Map-shows Elton Wisconsin County Map