Art Isaac, 85

Arthur "Art" D. Isaac, 85, a long-time resident of Mountain Home, died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006, at a Boise hospital with his family at his side.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 30, at Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel in Mountain Home. Burial followed at Mountain View Cemetery, in Mountain Home, with military honors.

Art was born Sept. 7, 1921, in Mildred, Kan., to Clarence and Dessie Isaac.

He graduated from Moran High School in 1939, and at the age of 19 was a supervisor in an aircraft factory in Kansas City.

At 21, he enlisted into the Army Air Corps. In 1944, while on his 25th combat mission, he was shot down and spent the last year of WWII in various German prison of war camps. Sixty-two years later, on Aug. 31, 2006, Art received a Purple Heart for injuries he received when his plane was shot down.

His experiences during the war were recently compiled by the Mountain Home Historical Society into a book, which is available at the Mountain Home Museum.

"Art had a lifelong passion for flying and received his pilot's license at age 45," his family noted, adding, "now he has his eternal wings."

Art came to Idaho, after the war, and married Pauline Davis of Boise in August of 1946. At that time, he owned and operated a convenience store on Vista Avenue. He then worked for Mountain Bell for 12 years.

In 1962, Art and Pauline acquired the Western Auto Store, which they operated for the next 26 years.

From 1971 until 1981, he served as a Commissioner of Mountain Home Highway District. In 1981, Gov. Phil Batt appointed Art to fill a vacancy in the Idaho House of Representatives, where he served for two years.

Art was a member of the Christian Baptist Church, a Charter Member of the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, and a long-time member of the American Legion.

Art is survived by: his wife, Pauline, of Mountain Home; daughters Arta Cheney (Charles) of Shoreview, Minn., Amy Rogers (David) of Reno, Nev., Alain Isaac (Ron Monestaerio) of Mountain Home; son Andy Isaac (Susan), presently serving with the Idaho National Guard in Afghanistan; five grandsons, two granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren. He also is survived by: his brothers, Bill Isaac of Greenfield, Mo., Don (Dorene) Isaac of Branson, Mo., Larry (Carolyn) Isaac of Lamar, Kan.; his sister, Elaine Page of Iola, Kan., numerous nieces and nephews, and his dog, Blue.

He was preceded in death by his sisters Euleta and Margaret, brother Earl, grandson Mike Cheney and granddaughter Lisa Pauline Isaac.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mountain Home Historical Society or the Christian Baptist Church Building Fund in Mountain Home. All donations can be sent c/o Rost Funeral Home, 500 N. 18th East St., Mountain Home, ID 83647.