ISAACSON, Ardis V., age 94

Died: Wednesday, December 25th, 2024

Funeral Services will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Wisconsin - Upper Wisconsin • Children's Dyslexia Centers\ or Drammen Lutheran Church, S12275 County Rd B, Mondovi, WI 54755. 

Ardis Vennita Isaacson, 94, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, with her husband of 73 years, Merlin, by her side. 

Ardis was born October 3, 1930 to the late Howard Jerome and Lulu Henrietta (Missell) Gunderson. She was raised on a farm in Chimney Rock Township. She graduated from Independence High School Class of '48, where she played baritone in the marching band and was prom queen, wearing a dress her sister Lois purchased since her parents couldn't afford one. Ardis attended technical college and after a stint as a receptionist at a feed mill in Hixton, she moved to Eau Claire and waitressed for a bit.

At the time, she roomed with Doris Isaacson who had a brother, Merlin. Ardis began working at Shedd-Brown Printing with Doris and got acquainted with Doris' brother, who had also begun working at Shedd-Brown. When Ardis and Merlin became engaged, she had to quit since married couples were not allowed to both be employed there. Ardis and Merlin were married August 17, 1951 at Chimney Rock Church.  

They eventually moved to North Shore Drive on the banks of the Eau Claire River. When the two bedroom house couldn't hold the four kids who came along, they built a house a ½ mile down the road on Edgewater Court. She and Merlin were longtime members of Grace Lutheran Church and later Drammen Church. Ardis enjoyed her vegetable gardens but mostly loved her flower beds.  

When Sue, the youngest, started Kindergarten, Ardis decided it was time to work outside the home. She began an office job but left at noon because she hated it, so Merlin suggested she go to college. She enrolled the next day. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught at Boyd School and her longest tenure was teaching fourth grade at Sam Davey Elementary in Eau Claire. She loved teaching and remembered many former students when they greeted her.  

After retirement, she helped Merlin with his printing business, Tempo Graphics, and they enjoyed going to trade shows for work but also traveling for fun. They drove to Alaska three times, once to Prince Edward Island, visited their daughter Becky when she lived in the Philippine Islands, and toured Scandinavia and Europe.  

She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great grandmother, famous for her homemade bread and doughnuts! She also loved playing cards with the grandchildren and completing crossword puzzles. She was not only a loyal Packer fan; Ardis also enjoyed watching football games of the various colleges her grandchildren attended. Ardis left us on Christmas Day gracing us with the many gifts she gave us through the years.

Ardis is survived by her loving husband, Merlin; their children, James (Linda), Rebecca (Gary) Keil, Paul (Bobbie Jo), and Susan (Jeffrey) Smith; grandchildren, Megan (Ernest) Peterson, Aaron Isaacson, Molly (Josh) Mason, Jason (Allie) Isaacson, Brittany (Jereme) Macready, Hillary (Jay) VonAhsen, Ashley Keil, Emily Smith, Sarah Smith, Erika (Dakota) Winn, and Retta Isaacson; 10 great grandchildren; sister, Annette Husom; sister-in-law, Doris Thompson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends including, Delores Larson and Irene Isaacson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Howard (Ann) Gunderson; sisters, Lois (Sam) Jones and Beverly Jean (in childhood); brother-in-law, James Husom; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Gordon (Jean) Isaacson, Casey (Carol) Stanton, Robert (Lila) Repaal, Harold (Audrey) Isaacson, and Lloyd Thompson.