Donald F. Zastrow

Donald F. Zastrow Sr., age 96 of Sheboygan died on December 5, 2024 at Shores of Sheboygan with Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, and family at his side during his brief time there. He was born on July 12, 1928 in Sheboygan to the late Hilbert and Esther Pohland Zastrow.

Don attended St Paul’s Lutheran grade school and graduated from North High School in 1946. He married Marilyn Loeber in 1962 in Sheboygan, they were married for 37 years till her passing in 1999. He then married his dear friend Virginia Hildebrand on April 28, 2008 in Naples, Florida. 

Don started his printing company Wisconsin Graphic Plate in 1953 and Universal Lithographers in 1961 and grew his companies for 63 years until selling them in 2016. He was a member of the Sheboygan Yacht club, the Elks Club Lodge #299, and the Bradenton Yacht Club in Florida.

Don was a train enthusiast and enjoyed creating and building his model railroad village which was displayed in his basement. He enjoyed his travels abroad as well as to theaters in North America. He also enjoyed spending many winters with Ginny in Florida.

Don was fascinated by theaters and began as a volunteer with Community Players in 1965. He designed lighting and ran sound for many performances and was President of Community Players when the Leslie W. Johnson Theater was built on the Horace Mann Campus. Don had an active role in bringing the Weill Center theater restoration dream to reality as treasurer of the Sheboygan Theater Foundation in 1987. He specialized in lighting the performances as he describes as “making everyone look good.” Don also designed lights and ran sound for plays held in the Kohler Memorial Theatre as well as for Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School when they held their choir and band performances at the Weill Center.

Survivors include his wife Virginia, children; Gail Zastrow, Caran Zastrow, Brandy Zastrow, and Donald II (Cecile) Zastrow, grandchildren Christian and Abigail Ott, a brother Vernon Zastrow and nieces Carrie (Todd) Mentink, and Lori (Dave) Post. He is further survived by niece Lynn (Cam) Litt, dear friend Robin Markworth, and other relatives and friends. He was proceeded in death by this parents, Marilyn, and sister-in-law Irma Zastrow.

A Private family interment will be held at Lutheran Cemetery. 

The Zastrow family would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to the staffs of Shores of Sheboygan and Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice for their help and compassion to Don and his family.

Memorial contributions in Don’s name can be made to Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, Humane Society or Stefanie H. Weill Center.