Anne Isgar, Durango’s own “Rosie the Riveter,” died last week at her home, 20 days before her 100th birthday.
During World War II, Isgar helped build military planes in Los Angeles, adding patriot to her roles as wife, mother and entrepreneur. In Durango, she was a “mover and shaker,” said her daughter, Shirley Isgar. During the week before her death, she spent time with family to celebrate her long life and early birthday.
“She was a very bright woman and had so much to offer and just wanted to stay involved in the community,” Shirley said.
After the war, Anne returned to Durango and reacquainted with Arthur Isgar at Thompson Saddle Shop. In 1946, they saw the railroad was in danger of closing, so the couple took the train to Silverton on May 28 to get married.
The Denver Post picked up the story, garnering statewide attention. The next summer, 8,000 people came to ride the train.
The longtime Durango resident left her mark on the community – in part because of her persistence.
“It takes an effort always to do anything new,” Shirley said. “Most people don’t like change. She was able to look to the future.”
For decades, Anne was involved with at least 10 organizations, including the Durango Chamber of Commerce, the Breen 4-H Club and San Juan Basin Public Health.
Anne served as an election judge until she was in her 90s. She was involved with Durango’s first recycling efforts. She also helped run a ranch and owned the Siesta Motel in the 1960s and 1970s.
In 2007, the La Plata County Historical Society honored the Isgars with the Community Heritage Award.
Anne was a lifelong learner and stressed the importance of a good education, her family wrote. She passed that value down to her five children. Her son, Jim Isgar, a Colorado state senator who died in 2016, served on the governing board for Fort Lewis College, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado.
Anne made sure her children left their small, rural school to get a broader education. They visited the Aztec ruins and took a plane ride from Durango to Farmington in the 1950s.
“She would help transport kids just to make sure we got exposed to things that you wouldn’t necessarily get exposed to if you just went to a one-room country school,” Shirley said.
Annie was also an avid gardener and took pride in her homemade pies. She enjoyed Scrabble, never missed “Jeopardy” and cheered for the Broncos.
As a mother, she wanted to be there for her children – even when they traveled around the world, Shirley said.
“She just loved to stay in touch,” she said. “She wanted to keep involved and encourage us.”
In lieu of flowers, Anne Isgar wanted people to remember the Animas Museum, the cornerstone of Animas City, where she and three of her children went to school.
smullane@durangoherald.com
