John T. Isler, MD

John T. Isler, MD died at his home in Coupeville on October 28th, 2012 surrounded by his family. He struggled with Pancreatic Cancer. He was born April 19, 1948 in Detroit, MI to Robert and June Isler. John grew up on Long Island, NY, attended Port Jefferson High School and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1969.

After graduating from U of M he traveled to California but returned to Long Island where he met the love of his life, Virginia Smith, in 1971. They remained on Long Island while he attended The State University of N.Y. at Stony Brook School of Medicine, then married just prior to his graduation in 1978. He traveled across the country with his new bride, to Seattle, WA to continue his medical training and complete a 5 year general surgery residency at the Swedish Medical Center . He then moved with his family to Grand Rapids, MI for one year to complete a Fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Ferguson Clinic.

In 1984 John returned to Seattle to practice colon and rectal surgery and partner with Dr. Richard Billingham. Together they formed the Northwest Colon and Rectal Clinic, with offices at Swedish Hospital, Ballard Hospital and Northwest Hospital. John was an inspired and dedicated surgeon at the clinic for 24 years and retired to Whidbey Island in April 2008.

John was a member of the NW Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, Washington Medical society, King County Medical Society, and the Seattle Surgical Society.

John will be dearly missed by family, friends, patients and colleagues. We are all forever changed by his presence in our lives.

John is survived by his wife, Virginia, and his two children: Christie Isler and her husband Kelly Owen, and Colin Isler and his fiancé Danae Kaemingk, as well as his first grand daughter, Acadia Isler Owen. He is also survived by his sister Susan Dillmann of Southbury,Connecticut, his brother Kevin Isler of Charleston, South Carolina and his brother Mathew Isler of Sammamish, Washington. He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael Isler.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00pm at Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation (www.lustgarten.org) or Friends of Home Health and Hospice, c/o Whidbey General Hospital.

Friends and family are encouraged to offer condolences and share memories utilizing the Memory book hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com

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