Isaac, John P. (1872-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 May 19 p. 6

Birth date: 1872 Aug 5

text of obituary:

— Mrs. A. F. Tieszen was called to Glendale, Calif. last week due to the death of her father, Dr. J. P. Isaac, who passed away there Wednesday morning, May 11. Funeral services were held at Glendale. Dr. Isaac lived in this area as a youth and attended Bethel College. He practiced medicine at Freeman, S. D. for a number of years, moving to Glendale in 1929. He is survived by two daughters, Helen of the home in Glendale, and Mrs. Tieszen; two sons, Herbert J. of El Paso and Gerhard of Denver; and a nephew, Dr. Arnold Isaac of Newton. he was preceded in death by his wife, the former Helen Goerz of Newton.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 May 26 p. 8

text of obituary:

JOHN P. ISAAC

John P. Isaac, son of Gerhard and Agatha (Hiebert) Isaac, was born on Aug. 5, 1872, in Pastwa, South Russia and died at Behrens hospital, Glendale, Calif. on May 11, 1955, having reached the age of 82 years, nine months, and six days. He was preceded in death by an infant son Henry Robert, a son David Donald in young manhood and his wife Helene in 1938. He was the last surviving member of a family of five brothers and five sisters.

He leaves two sons, Gerhard J. of Denver, Colo. and Herbert J. of El Paso, Texas; two daughters grandchildren.

At the age of three, John Isaac, with his parents, brothers and sisters crossed the Atlanic [sic Atlantic] in an immigrant boat to find a new home in America where they might enjoy religious, political, and economic freedom. Upon reaching America they settled first in Mt. Lake, Minn., and later in Lehigh, Kansas, where the operation of a general store enabled John and the other children to obtain a higher education.

John had the urge to follow two physician sisters in their professional footsteps but instead he became a teacher after finishing district school, normal school and then Bethel College at North Newton, Kansas. He taught school in Kansas and in Manitoba, Canada.

In 1898 he married a schoolmate, Helen Goerz. After several years of teaching he definitely decided to study medicine and moved to Chicago, Ill. After completion of his medical course he established a general practice in Freeman, South Dakota, which remained the family home for 25 years. In 1929 he moved to Glendale, Calif. where he first worked in industrial medicine and later resumed generad [sic] practice.

In 1947 failing health brought about a rearrangement of hours and curtailment of strenuous features of his medical practice. In 1953 he found it necessary to close his office and give up his medical practice of almost 49 years. He continued to live in the family apartment with his daughter Helene until his final brief illness.

Memorial services were held on May 14, 1955, at Glendale. Officiating clergymen were Rev. Eugene Sill, his pastor, and Dr. Jesse F. Perrin and Rev. Anton m. Hanson, former pastors.

Dr. Isaac was a charter member of the Bethany Mennonite church at Freeman, South Dakota, founded 50 years ago. He with his family joined the First Congregational church of Glendale soon after the move to California. He was regular in church attendance and even the last two , years worshipped in church as often as his health permitted.

Those who feel his loss deeply are comforted by the thought expressed by the poet who says, “He is not dead, he is just away.” — The Children.