Isaac was born April 25, 1910, in Pretoria, Orenburg. He was the eighth child, if one includes the first “Isaac”, who died only days after birth, and he had five siblings younger than him. Isaac spent his childhood and most of his teen years growing up in some of the most turbulent and chaotic years of European history, finally able to escape the turmoil with his parents in 1926, at age 16.

     Zana Tiegs was born in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, February 28, 1917. She had lost her mother at the age of seven and so she and one of her sisters spent the next five years in Ontario with a relative. There was another brother and sister. Her father remarried and brought the family back to Vegreville, Alberta, where he had work. Zana graduated from business college and made Calgary her home. It was at Bowness Park in Calgary where Isaac met Zana, and on March 17, 1938, they were wed in Calgary.

     For the first eight years of married life, their home was on Isaac’s parents’ farm in Simon’s Valley. Isaac, like several of his brothers, had taken up carpentry and construction, rather than farming, a career he practiced all his adult years. He worked both independently and sometimes for contractors. Isaac built a house in Bowness, and in 1946, he and Zana moved there, where they raised their three young children.

     Isaac was a man of ideas and had an inventive mind. He built furniture for his children – each daughter received a dresser, which they still cherish to this day. He was known for his prowess at chess, checkers, and crokinole, rarely suffering a loss. Zana’s life revolved around her family, her garden, and her church; she was always sharing her faith with others. Vacations consisted of annual summer trips to Banff and summer picnics.

     Isaac and Zana took great pride in their family. Isaac is remembered, in particular, for being a “great father and grandfather”. The grandchildren looked forward to their visits with grandfather, visiting him in his shop. There was always something provided for them to build, and they also knew that the shop fridge was stocked with cold pop, just for them. On Sundays, there was always a competition amongst the grandchildren as to who would be able to sit next to him at dinner time.

    On March 29, 1978, Isaac passed away at the age of 67, and Zana died 21 years later, on February 26, 1999, at age 81. Their direct descendants number 21 (2023).