Isabelle Pauline (Frank) Gross 1920 - 2012

Isabelle Pauline (Frank) Gross was reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, Jake, on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's since the late 1980's. She passed from this life peacefully at Lompoc Valley Medical Center after fighting pneumonia at the age of 91.

Isabelle was born in Dickinson, North Dakota, on July 11, 1920. She was the fifth daughter of Emanuel and Eva Schnurr Frank. Isabelle moved with her family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when she was in elementary school and later discovered that she was in the same school and grade as Liberace. Her family would always tease her about the fact, and she would just smile with satisfaction.

Later in her teens, her family would move back to Dickinson where she would eventually find a job in the Quillan Cafe in the famous railroad hotel, the Villard. It was here that she met the love of her life, Jake, who was a chef in the cafe's kitchen. This started their long journey together. They were married on June 26, 1940, and were soul mates for 69 years until Jake's death in 2009.

After their marriage, Isabelle and Jake headed west to Billings, MT in 1941, looking for a better life. There they had two daughters, but going west was still in their blood. In 1949, they moved to Spokane, WA where they bought a home and built a life together and had another daughter. In 1999, they made another major move after 50 years in WA to Lompoc, CA to be closer to their daughters.

Isabelle's life was centered around her family and close neighborhood friends. She would spend hours having coffee and chatting with her three best friends. They would laugh and giggle like best friends do. After her daughters were able to be on their own, she worked as a salesclerk for Grants and then for the Crescent Department Store for 20 years, until her retirement. She became a victim of Alzheimer's in the late 1980's, which curtailed some of the things she liked to participate in -- both at church and at home.

Isabelle had a wonderful smile for everyone she met, but she was also very shy and would wait for others to start a conversation and activities, but watch out when she finally got involved! Her favorite activity with Jake was to go dancing at the German Hall, Eagles, and at weddings, which were many with such a large family. Watching Jake and Isabelle dance together was a thing of wonder. They were a perfect dance couple, especially when they danced the Polka. Her singing voice was a joy to listen to, and she loved to sing to her children and in church.

Isabelle is preceded in death by her husband Jacob (Jake), her parents, her three brothers: Joseph, John, and Anton; five sisters: Rosemary, Barbara, Katie, Rosie, and Pauline, and a granddaughter, Teresa Dionne.

Sadly, she now leaves behind her daughters, Luella "Lu" and her spouse (Chuck) Knowles of Lompoc, Kathleen "Kathy" and her spouse (Wayne) Johnson of Westley Chapel, FL, and Linda Ann of Lompoc, CA. Grandchildren: Heather (Earl) Power of Keene, NH, Michelle "Chelle" (Marc) Townes of Lompoc, CA, and Kimberly "Kim" (Chris) Koenig of Westley Chapel, FL: nine great-grandchildren, Gwendolyn and Benjamin Power, Sydney, Mason, Gavin and Peyton Townes, Gabriella, Audrey and Jacob Koenig. Mom, thank you for taking such good care of your family. Thank you for loving us with all your heart and soul. We know you were totally devoted to us. Your whole life was centered around us. The family will miss you everyday until we are together again.

An evening vigil will take place at Starbuck- Lind Mortuary on Thursday, February 23 from 4-6 PM. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at La Purisima Church by the Rev. Thomas Cook on Friday, February 24, 2012, at 10 AM followed by internment at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will take place afterward at La Purisima Parish Hall following the service.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1528 Chapala St., #204, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, in Isabelle's memory. The family would also like to extend their appreciation to Doctor Rollin Bailey for his care and to the staff at Lompoc Skilled and Rehab Center for their love and gentle care of Isabelle since 2006.