Isler obit
Col. William Henry Isler, age 91, was born in Bowling Green, Fla. on Feb. 23, 1919. At an early age, he became known as “Red” because of his red hair inherited from his Mother, Minnie Johnson Saxon.
After a brief stay at Hope Hospice House, Red made one last “rest stop” at Cypress Cove Lodge for the remainder of his Hospice care. We would like to thank his care-givers in both locations.
Red is survived by his former wife: Ruth Eddy Isler, of Shreveport, La., whom he met and married in Japan in 1948; a son: William “Rusty” Isler of Fort Myers Beach, General Manager of the Island Water Assoc. on Sanibel and former Fort Myers Beach Councilman; a daughter: Jane Wojecki Jenkins and her husband Gary of The Woodlands, Tex.; one grandson: William Andrew Wojecki of Houston, Tex.; two granddaughters: Sherry Isler of Orlando and Stacey Isler of Fort Myers. His legacy of red hair was passed to all his children and grandchildren.
Colonel Isler retired from thirty years of military service spanning the National Guard, U.S. Army, the Army Air CORPS and finally the U.S. Air Force. His service included WWII and Korea. After retirement Red served as a U.S. civilian contractor in Vietnam. He was thought by many to be a “maverick” and natural leader. Red entered the service straight out of high school as a private. Thirty years later he retired as a full colonel.
Red returned to his home state of Florida where he fished commercially on the M/V Harbor Queen and then joined with his son, Rusty, to build and work on M/V Orion. He fished the waters of Florida and Southport, N.C., was part owner in the Bonita Fish Co. on the Beach, and became involved with the M/V Black Whale out of Atlantic City, N.J.
Red will be remembered as a loyal and caring man of his word. He was a strict disciplinarian (with his airmen and his kids!), yet gentle-hearted and a man-with-a-plan. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
The family wishes to recognize Red’s special friends who shared so much in his later years: Pauline & Okie Whitcraft, Billy & Vivian Eddy, Kent & Barbara Adams and Dr. Ed (U.S.N. ret.) & Jackie Lane.
Friends are invited to attend a celebration of his life to be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Restaurant at 704 Fisherman’s Wharf. Arlington National Cemetery will be our beloved Colonel’s final resting place.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be sent to the charity of your choosing.