Raymond Allan Isaacson

Raymond Allan Isaacson, age 88, of Albert Lea, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Saturday, August 15th, 2026 at The Good Samaritan Society, Albert Lea.

A funeral service will be held at Bonnerup Funeral Home, 2210 East Main Street, Albert Lea 56007, on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at 2 PM, with visitation to be held one hour before the service. Burial will be at the Synod Lutheran Cemetery, Lake Mills, Iowa. Pastor Ryan Stevenson-Cosgrove will be officiating.

Ray was born on November 18, 1937, in Albert Lea to Glenn and Harriet (Rasmussen) Isaacson. He was baptized at Lunder Lutheran Church and confirmed at Emmon’s Lutheran Church. Ray graduated from Emmons High School in 1956. On November 10, 1960, Ray was inducted into the United States Army. He was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. He was in the Army and Reserve until 1966. He then started working at Wilson's Foods in the smoked meats department. He made many friends there.

On November 13, 1971, Ray married the love of his life, Thelma (Askildson-Brackey). Along with Thelma came 5 children — 2 of which were teenagers. It was a lot to take on, but Ray did it with grace. Our lives were forever changed for the better. We are all so grateful for him.

Any project Thelma would think up (and there were many), Ray never complained. He just did whatever made her happy. If ever a child or grandchild needed anything — they called Grandpa.

Ray picked out everyone's birthday cards because he would stand in the store and read them all until he found just the right one for that person. Ray LOVED hunting! Deer, duck, but his favorite was goose hunting. He loved hunting with his son, Rob, and his grandson Nate. Also, Nate's friends thought of Grandpa as part of "The Group." They loved it when Grandpa showed up to hunt. Ray went deer and goose hunting until he was 87 years old. He shot a nice buck when he was 85. Ray was also an avid fisherman. He especially liked to catch northerns.

Ray is survived by his daughter Debra Bergland (Lynden Smith); his son Robert (Julie) Brackey; son-in-law David Hissam; daughter-in-law Pam Brackey; grandchildren Cindy (Todd) Bird, Cory (Cindy) Day, Fred Day, Ashley (Randy) Lawson, Becky (Casey) Shaw, Nicole Brackey, Misty (Robert) Ohman, Travis (Kenzie) Bergland, Brooke (Jonnie) Brackey, Nate (Chaise) Brackey, Tyler (Caitlin) Brackey; 34 great-grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; sisters Jean (Orlo) Willmert, Joan (Larry) Beck, Harriet (Dennis) Seaton; sister-in-law Bev (Ray Frost), and special nephew Jason Isaacson.

Ray was preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Thelma; his children Patricia Hissam, Dan Brackey, Diane Brackey; his grandson Scott Brackey Peterson; his great-granddaughter Gracie Lawson; sisters Vonnie Dahl and Judy Underwood; and brother Paul Isaacson.

A HUGE thank you to Good Samaritan Society Albert Lea, "STATION 4"! Your team is amazing! You treated our Dad like he was your family. You treated him so well and made him feel very special. He loved you all. Thank you so much! Pastor Kent — thank you for the prayers, the songs, and the visits. We are so grateful for you. Tina Dresser — God put you on Station 4 that night to be my angel — I am forever grateful!

St. Croix Hospice — You are angels put on this earth. You cried with us at the beginning of this journey and you cried with us in the end. But we had so many laughs in between. You kept our Dad looking great and feeling no pain the whole time. You were always way ahead of any problem. Your hearts are HUGE! We are grateful you took care of our Dad! Thank you!