Isaacson, Roger Green
Roger G. Isaacson passed away peacefully on April 16, 2014. Born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on June 26, 1919, his journey of 94 years was filled with decades of teaching, coaching, and impacting countless lives of students, athletes, friends and family. After graduation from Fort Dodge High School as a stellar student and State Champion wrestler, he attended Iowa State Teachers College where he was an NCAA runner-up in the 136-pound weight class. When WWII began, he joined the Army Air Corps and trained as a fighter pilot, often joking that the enemies surrendered when they heard he was coming. He went on to coach both wrestling and football at New Hampton (Iowa) High School and started the wrestling program at Dubuque (Iowa) Senior High School in 1956. He taught Physics, Chemistry and Biology and completed his teaching and coaching career at Oak Park-River Forest (Illinois) High School, retiring in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1973. In addition to his academic and athletic interests, he enjoyed music - playing the piano, ukulele, harmonica, accordion, and singing barbershop harmony. Roger was preceded in in death his father, Frank Gustav Isaacson; his mother, Bernice Green Isaacson, who lived to the age of 104; his brother Fenton R. Isaacson; his wife of 39 years, Marjorie Zingg Isaacson; his wife of 23 years, Frances Tuck Isaacson. He is survived by his son, Terry Christian, and daughter-inlaw, Nancy Jeanne (Novak); his daughter, Janet Christine (Genung) and sonin-law, Timothy Edward Genung; four grandchildren - Dr. Heather IsaacsonWagner, Hollie Isaacson Tice, Joseph Green Genung, Christopher Edward Genung; four great grandchildren - Ashley Jeanne Moffat, Thomas Christian Moffat, Lauren Taylor Tice, and Ava Caroline Tice; and a niece, Nan Christine (Kristy) Stave. A small family gathering will be held to celebrate Roger’s long and illustrious life. The Isaacson family entrusted Carr-Tenney Mortuary, 2621 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, AZ 85282 with final arrangements. Please visit www.carrtenneymortuary.com to leave Roger’s family online condolence messages.