John Isler

John T. Isler, MD died at his home in Coupeville on October 28, 2012 surrounded by his family.

He struggled with pancreatic cancer. He was born April 19, 1948 in Detroit, Mich. to Robert and June Isler. John grew up on Long Island, N.Y., attended Port Jefferson High School and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1969.

John returned to Long Island after college to attend the University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, then married, Virginia Smith just prior to his graduation in 1978. They moved to Seattle so John could complete his five-year surgical residency at Swedish Medical Center. He also completed a one year fellowship in colon and rectal surgery in Grand Rapids, Mich.

John has practiced colon and rectal surgery in Seattle since 1984 at the Northwest Colon and Rectal Clinic with offices at Swedish Hospital, Ballard Hospital and Northwest Hospital. He retired in 2008 to Whidbey Island.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his two children: Christie Isler and Colin Isler and his first grand daughter Acadia Isler Owen. He is also survived by his sister Susan Dillmann, of Connecticut, his brother Kevin Isler, of South Carolina, and his brother Mathew Isler, of Washington.

A Celebration of Life is 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3 at Wallin Funeral Home in 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