Garry R. Zastrow

Garry R. Zastrow 61, 2710 N. 25th Street, Wausau, passed away Friday, June 26, 2009 under the loving care of his family and Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services at his home. He fought a courageous battle against cancer for the past 19 months. His struggle ended on the 9th anniversary of his dads passing within the exact hour. Garry lived his life in Wausau, the fourth oldest of nine children. He was born November 6, 1947 in Wausau son of Virginia (Tietz) Zastrow, Wausau and the late Fred Zastrow. He attended Highland Grove, Horace Mann and Wausau East High School. On September 3, 1966 he married Janet Ziech at St. Paul United Church of Christ, Wausau. She survives. For more than 35 years Garry drove truck for G & B Produce, Schofield then drove truck for Roadready Transfer Service Inc., Wausau. During his life Garry enjoyed fishing trips to Canada with family and friends, card playing, trips to the western United States, raising cattle and being a herdsman. He raised ginseng and especially enjoyed making hay. He also operated the family sawmill but his dream operation would have been dairy farming. Garry was a humble, kind hearted, hard working kind of guy, willing to help anyone at anytime. He needed to be busy doing something. His fragile health was so difficult for him to endure. In the nine years since his father's passing, Garry stopped to check on Mom every day, until his health prevented him from doing so. We will miss him so very much. Garry proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps. from which he was honorably discharged to return home and help on the farm when dad was injured. Survivors besides his wife Janet Zastrow, Wausau and his mother, Virginia Zastrow, Wausau include his children, Scott Zastrow, Karen Zastrow and Steve Zastrow, all of Wausau, his siblings, Linda (Richard) Schroeder, Donna (Bruce) Kufahl and Kathy (Gary) Wistrom, all of Wausau, Vicki (Larry Halpain) Deckert, Aniwa, Robin (Roger) Rygiewicz, Wausau, Elroy (Sharon) Zastrow, Wausau and Arlin (April) Zastrow, Aniwa. Garry is further survived by his nieces and nephews, Todd (Jane) Schroeder, Adam and Brad, Wausau, Troy (Tammy) Schroeder, Corwin, Griffin and Willow, Three Lakes, Ted and Cheryl Schroeder, Wausau and Tiffany (Jeremy) Knopow, Burlington, Blake (Beckie) Kufahl, Wausau, Brett Kufahl, Weston and Brooke (Bob) Frenkel, Wausau, Kelly (Eric) Larson, Samantha, Logan (Kenzie) Wausau, Rod (Staci) Brandon, Morgahn (George and Saxon) Wausau, Erika (Larry) Murphy, Cole, Jenna, Brooke, Wausau, Travis (Brittany) Wistrom, Wausau and Ryan (Amanda) Wistrom, Wausau, Brittanie, Alec, Amelia Zastrow (Dustin), Aniwa and Cody and Kyle Smoker, Wausau. Garry was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, August and Mary (Behnke) Tietz and paternal grandparents, William and Alvina (Klabunde) Zastrow, his father Fred and his brother Wayne Zastrow. Visitation for Garry will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, 1302 Sixth Street, Wausau. Private burial will be in Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau. Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com Gone Too Soon We'll Love You Forever