William A. 'Bill' Isaacson

COLUMBIA, Mo. - William A. "Bill" Isaacson, 50, of Columbia, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014, at his home of natural causes.

Bill was born Jan. 26, 1964, in Chardon, Ohio, to Dewey and Mary Lou (nee Collins) Isaacson.

Bill graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1982. He earned his Bachelor of Arts with a minor in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich. Bill returned to school later in life, earning his Bachelor of Science in physics at Northern Michigan University and was accepted into the doctorate program at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned his Master of Science in physics.

Bill served in the U. S. Navy from May 27, 1986, until Sept. 1, 1993, earning awards, commendations, medals and a USCG Special Operations Ribbon. He was employed at Energetics Technologies USA and the University of Missouri in Columbia at The Sidney Kimmel Institute for Nuclear Renaissance. These two employments brought him great fulfillment and satisfaction. He enjoyed the hands on responsibilities, the research, the discoveries that "SKINR" had made and the friendships he formed with co-workers.

Bill is survived by his father, Dewey Isaacson; step-mother, Linda Ellen; sister, Rosanne (nee Isaacson) (Greg) Corcoran; niece, Christina Corcoran; nephew, Kevin Corcoran; aunts and uncles, Curt and Betsy (nee Isaacson) Slabaugh, Roy Isaacson and Nancy Swanson, Harry and Joyce Collins, Dan and Tina Collins and Marie Collins (Larry); and many cousins and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lou (nee Collins) Isaacson; grandparents, Harry and Anna (nee Jaresky) Collins, and Herbert and Melvina (nee Stoor) Isaacson; and uncles, John Isaacson and Larry Collins.

Bill was a brilliant, humble man with a heart as big as his stature; a gentle giant, physicist, gun and shooting enthusiast, brewer, voracious reader, Packers fan, lover of music and a lifelong animal lover, who will be missed by his cats, Festus and Miss Kitty.

Spring burial at Sunset Acres Cemetery in Ironwood Township, Mich.

Memorial service will be held at Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer, Mich., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at 5 p.m. Rev. Bill Jacobson will officiate. Relatives and friends may call from 4 p.m. until the time of service at the church. A luncheon will follow at Kastman Hall at the church.

Military rights will be accorded by the American Legion Post 5 of Ironwood.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local animal shelter.

Range Funeral Service Inc., Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home of Bessemer is in charge of local arrangements.