Ronald L. Isaacs, 77, of Golconda, Illinois, went home to be with his Savior on Saturday, December 12, 2020. The firstborn of four children, Ronald attended Mt. Vernon Township High School until the end of his Junior year when he moved to Roxana. He graduated from Roxana Community High School in 1961 and joined the Navy, eventually following his father’s footsteps by becoming a Chief Petty Officer and attaining E7 status in less than 4 years. Ronald sacrificially served his country for 22 years, spending time on the USS Coral Sea while serving in Vietnam. He spent several years in sales, both domestic and international, sparking a lifelong love of travel. He then went on to obtain his undergraduate degree as well as his law degree from Southern Illinois University and SIU Carbondale Law School respectively. He was passionate about Father’s Rights Law and the Pro-Life Movement. His work had a lasting impact on many people. Ronald enjoyed a life of hunting, fishing, and camping and remembers spending many good times with his cousins, Donnie and David, rabbit hunting in his youth around the Mount Vernon area. He loved them like brothers. He received his Ham Radio license at 12 years of age (the youngest to be licensed in the State of Illinois at the time) and was an avid radio operator. He enjoyed spending time with his children and was a proud father of six daughters. He found his time as President of the Rotary Club in Golconda, Illinois to be enjoyable in his later years. Above all, Ronald loved the Lord Jesus Christ and fondly remembered his time spent as a youth at Park Avenue Baptist Church where he made the decision to follow Christ. Throughout his life, he grew closer to the Lord, became an ordained minister, and spent time preaching in the Philippines. He spent many months there building churches and ministering to those around the Cebu area. While we will all miss Ronald’s presence on earth, we know for certain that he is celebrating with God in Heaven. He unashamedly believed in the resurrection and saving grace of Jesus and passionately shared this message wherever he went. In his last days, he spoke often of the glory of heaven awaiting him.
A private graveside service for family and close friends will be held at New Shiloh Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Friday, December 18, 2020. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Park Avenue Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
He is survived by his daughters Christine (Vince) Palermo of Fairview Heights, Illinois, Katherine (Daniel) Rocconi of Brentwood, New Hampshire, Laura (David) Schachter of DeLand, Florida, Karen (Randy) Harmon of Oviedo, Florida, and Sarah (Chad) Isaacs of Westerville, Ohio; his sisters, Joyce Dildine, Susan Faloon, and Carol (Steve) Weber; his cousins Donnie (Donna) Yearwood, and David (Shirley) Yearwood; his eight grandchildren: Cody (Erica) Palermo, Hyla Palermo (engaged to Shay Cain), Joshua (Emily) Rocconi, Caleb Rocconi, Anna Rocconi, Ashley Schachter, Meagan Schachter, and Noah Harmon; one great-grandchild, Selah Cain; and seven nieces and nephews: Tim (Michal) Dildine, Jeff (Sherry) Tottleben, Juli (Garth) Akal, Tammy (Kyle) McLane, Amy (Brian) Macias, Meghan Ellis, and Christopher Faloon.
Ronald was born on January 4, 1943, in Mount Vernon, Illinois, the son of the late Leslie Isaacs and the late Dorothy Isaacs. Ronald believed that death was a celebration and a reuniting with his Lord and Savior and taught this throughout his life and worked to bring the Gospel with him wherever he went. He joins daughter Elizabeth Isaacs, his mother and father, and his brother-in-law Roy Dildine in heaven.
“The events of my own life flashed before me. I thought I had been driven by a desire to provide for my family, build a good law firm, serve my country. But in reality what I was doing all those years was feeding my pride, proving how good I was. Lewis convicted me that all my efforts had been in vain, that in my drive for the top I had missed the real pinnacle- to know God in a personal way.” -Excerpt from Charles W. Colson’s Introduction of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (underlined from Ronald Isaacs’ personal copy of the book). “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
