Jerry Isaacson

Jerry H. Isaacson, 82, passed away at home in North Ogden, UT, on May 8, 2025. He was born on December 2, 1942 in Ogden, UT to Virginia LuJean (Hull) and Elmer Andrew Isaacson. He was the first of five children and had a happy childhood growing up in Taylor, UT. He was born into a good family and enjoyed being surrounded by grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Jerry learned how to play the accordion which he enjoyed playing throughout his life for other people. He graduated from Weber High School. After high school, Jerry served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Finland. He grew to love the country, the people, and the language. He toured Europe after his
mission which included a surprise trip to Moscow, Russia at the height of the cold war. Jerry loved traveling and was always keen for an adventure.
Next, Jerry attended Weber State College when he heard of a Finnish girl visiting Ogden, UT. Seeking an adventure, he went to visit her at her host’s, the Olpin’s, home in Ogden, UT. This visit resulted in almost 59 years of happy marriage to Marja Kaarina Ojala. They were married on August 5, 1966 in the Logan Temple.
Together, they had a wonderful life. First, they got Jerry a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Utah. They then lived in Grand Junction, CO, where Jerry worked briefly for the Bureau of Reclamation. He then changed jobs to work for Utah Power and Light. They lived in Cortez, CO, Monticello, UT, Moab, UT, and Layton, UT before settling in Kaysville, UT. Along the way, they became parents to five children Michael, Monica, Anneli, David, and Katrina. In Kaysville, they designed and built a beautiful home on Sunset Drive where they raised their family of five children. Jerry, true to his sense of adventure, learned carpentry, masonry, roofing, plumbing, and electrical while building the house. The house still stands as a
testimony to their hard work and resilience.
While in Kaysville, Jerry and Kaarina continued their adventure by opening a business, Isaacson Engineering and Surveying. They successfully operated this business for over a decade serving customers in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada. Eventually, as Jerry grew older, he saw the wisdom of working for retirement and returned to Utah Power and Light. His professional work brought him much joy as he got paid to travel, hike, and explore the mountains and countryside. He helped plan many of the electrical transmission and distribution power lines in the intermountain west.
He retired in 2008, but continued his adventures by serving a mission with Kaarina to
Kennewick, WA. They went to Kennewick because of an invitation from their good neighbors and friends, Paul and Elizabeth Belnap, who were serving as mission presidents. Jerry enjoyed his mission managing the fleet of mission cars, working with young people, and serving the people in the Columbia Basin Ward located in Eltropia, WA. He loved traveling to where the missionaries were as it allowed him to again explore new country.
After their mission, Jerry and Kaarina eventually retired to North Ogden where they both faced health issues together. This adventure was not pleasant, but it cemented their love and devotion to each other as they learned how to better serve each other and trust in the Lord.
Jerry also found new ways to explore by writing poetry, and engineering tools to help him complete daily tasks, and staying positive. He was happiest when he was able to go out to watch a grandchild’s ball game while sipping his favorite Mountain Dew and trying to research some obscure topic on his smart phone. He also found time to serve on the Antelope Island Trail Patrol.
Jerry was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout his life. He enjoyed all of the wards he was a member of, served in many callings, and volunteered for assignments. He served with Kaarina in the Bountiful, UT temple. He was particularly fond of the missionary program and kept track of his brothers, children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces’ missions. To him, these were adventures taking place in far-away places. He was interested in detail and would study maps endlessly to understand where his loved one was serving. He loved Google Earth and wishes he had this tool his entire life!
Jerry is survived by his beloved Kaarina. He was truly devoted to her and grateful for her dedicated service to him. He often expressed how she was the most important person in his life and would cut short an “adventure” to be by her side. She was one of the reasons why he had a happy life.
Jerry is survived by his children Michael (Shira), Monica (Derrick), Anneli, David (Ginger), and Katrina (Joshua) who each loved having an adventure with him. He is survived by 13 grandchildren who each were taught by him on how to safely go up and down stairs. He is survived by his younger siblings Judy, Janet (Richard), Ron (Kimberly), and Jeff (Jana) who all consider him to be a hero. He was preceded in death by his loving parents, LuJean and Elmer, and a brother-in-law Alan Cummings.
Jerry would have liked to acknowledge his two grandchildren currently serving missions. Raili is in the Argentina Salta Mission and Maxwell is in the Virginia Richmond Mission. Raili and Max, please know that he spent hours studying your letters, trying to find out where you were on Google Earth, and researching topics you may have discussed. He actually was this way with all of his family and was interested in their work, their activities, where they lived, and even the route they drove. To him, these were interesting, and it is one way he was involved in our lives.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Friday, May 16, 2025 at Myers Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd., Ogden, Utah and also Saturday, May 17th from 12 pm to 1:10 pm. The Funeral Service will be at 1:30 pm also at Myers Mortuary. Interment is at Kaysville Cemetery.
The family would like to give special thanks to Stephanie, Brian, and Pam from Canyon Home Health, Dr. Trevor Squire and Dr. Todd Shelby. Kaarina would also like to thank all of the wonderful neighbors, coworkers, and friends that have been part of Jerry’s life. Jerry valued his association with you.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Missionary fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Friends of Antelope Island at https://www.antelopeislandfriends.org/