Roberta Tatro

Roberta Ruth Tatro, nee Simon, of Grantsburg, WI, passed into the arms of God on Thursday, December 1, 2016, at the age of 66. Roberta, better known as Robbie to friends and family, was born on April 25, 1950, in Minneapolis MN. She was the 5th and youngest child of her parents, Wilbur and Mary (Fitzgerald) Simon, and spent most of her childhood in the Minneapolis area. She married her high school sweetheart, Dave Tatro, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. They were united in marriage August 23, 1969, at the Prince of Glory Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. Dave and Robbie eventually settled in East Bethel, MN, and that was where they called home for over 30 years. There, they raised children, dogs, cats, chickens and a couple of goats. They attended Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Francis MN. Robbie’s affinity for people was well reflected in her career choices once her children were older. She was a Minnesota Real Estate Agent and Broker for over 20 years, working first in Coon Rapids and eventually working in Northern Anoka and Isanti County. Never one to enjoy sitting around when she retired from Real Estate, she worked for the U.S. Census Bureau and was a local election judge. Robbie loved genealogy and family history. She spent many hours in dusty basements of libraries and historical societies learning about long forgotten ancestors and their stories. Robbie was an avid gardener, and visitors to their home in East Bethel, and their later home in Grantsburg, were always pleasantly surprised by the extensive perennial gardens she tended to with love. She loved to read, and when looking for a community to buy a retirement home, a library she could walk to was on the top of her wish list. Grantsburg, Wisconsin, fit the bill and she quickly joined the local book club. Robbie also joined the Grantsburg Area Historical Society and volunteered at many of their events. When she wasn’t busy volunteering or going to her grandchildren’s events, she and Dave liked to travel far and near, from a favorite little spot in the Apostle Islands, to bus tours of the New England states, they enjoyed spending time exploring together. Cancer has robbed a family of their vibrant, loving wife, mother and grandmother, but it can never take her spirit that lives on in each of our hearts. She will be sorely missed by anyone who ever had the joy of knowing her. Robbie is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, David; her children: Erica (Jeremy) Morton of Grantsburg WI, Lucas (Ashley) Tatro of Worthington MN, and Justin (Collette) Tatro of St. Louis Park MN, and her grandchildren who were the light of her life: Alexandra, Devin, Rebecca, Dakota, Ty, Elizabeth, Zoe, Christian and Teagan Robi. She is also survived by her brothers: Daniel Hoy of Paso Robles CA and Timothy Simon of Dorena OR; and her sister, Lori (Jim) Nelson of Kenmare ND. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Wilbur Simon; and her brother, Michael Hoy. Relatives and friends may call between 4:00 and 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 4, 2016, at Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Grantsburg, WI. A graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 am, Monday, Dec. 5th, at Riverside Cemetery, Grantsburg. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Burnett County Humane Society would be appreciated.