by: Melissa Dalley
Kornelius Isaak and his wife, Aganetha (neé Penner), and children immigrated to America from Ukraine aboard the S. S. Frankfurt in October 1913.
The photo is of that actual ship (undated).
The family was able to afford a cabin for their passage, rather than berths in steerage. Kornelius told the agent he had no additional money, but oldest son Cornelius recounted the children had money sewn into their clothing to safeguard it from thieves and dishonest officials.
Helena Penner was traveling with them. She was likely Aganetha's younger sister. And there was also Johann and Margaretha Koop, and their daughter, Katharina.
Soon after they arrived in Reedley, California, a newspaper reporter took this photo of the Isaak children.
back: Dave, Jake, Cornie, Mr. & Mrs. Koop and daughter, Katarina.
front: Abe, Agnes, Mary, John, Susie, Henry
Kornelius and Aganetha declined to be in the photo.
Frank was born to Kornelius and Aganetha on June 24, 1920.
He also had 2 older siblings who were born in America: Lena and Peter.
Kornelius Isaak Family Portrait circa 1930
In 1935, Frank was in the sophomore class at Dinuba High School, in Dinuba, California.
His mother died in 1934 and his father died in 1935. What a sorrowful year this must have been for him!
Frank graduated from Dinuba High School in about 1937.
"This evening [Dec. 7] is the anniversary of the engagement of my father, Frank Isaac, to my mother, Jeannette Rutschman. As the story goes, they were parking in his boss's car in the hills of LA looking down over the city. Mom and Dad were students at Biola Bible College and Dad had a part-time job as a chauffeur for a wealthy lady who let him use the car whenever he wished. So he wished, they were engaged, turned on the radio and heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. A momentous evening."
as told by Sherrilyn Isaac Fisher
In about 1942, he graduated from BIOLA.
Frank married Jeannette Rutschman on July 5, 1942, in Whitewater, Kansas.
On August 21, 1942, Frank enlisted in the Army Air Corps.
He served as a clerk at Camp Pendelton in California during World War II.
After Jeannette's mother, Lizzy, died in September 1949, the family moved to Whitewater, Kansas, where Frank worked on the farm with his father-in-law, David Rutschman.
Isaac Family 1952
front row: Sherry, Gary
back row: Jeannette, Nancy, Frank
Rutschman Family Reunion circa 1960:
First row L-R: Frank, Jeannette, and Nancy Isaac. Then Richard Thiessen and his wife Evelyn Jean (née Langeneggar). Cindy Isaac is next.
Second row: aunt Evelyn Langeneggar, grandpa Dave Rutschman and wife Margaret. Laverne's children David, Ruth, Richard, and Tommy next to their mother Harriet.
Family identified by Nancy Isaac Klassen
Enjoying the picnic were
Left side of table: Grandpa David Rutschman, his wife Margaret, Ruth, Harriet, Richard
Right side: Frank, Cindy, David Rutschman, Jeannette, Evelyn, Floyd Rutschman, (son of Waldo and Vera). Then Bob Rutschman, Evelyn Jean, and Dean Hiebert (husband of Deloris, Floyd's sister). Deloris is very possibly sitting on the left side next to Harriet and Richard.
Off to the right: Richard Thiessen, Uncle Fred Langeneggar.
Wheat Harvest, about 1960
Foreground: Grandpa Dave Rutschman holding Cindy Isaac
Back row: David, Richard, Ruth, and Bob Rutschman, Nancy Isaac
Frank is combining. Gary Isaac is in the truck bed.
Isaac family 1964
Frank and Jeannette with Nancy and Cindy
Frank & Jeannette's 25th Wedding Anniversary, July 5, 1967
Isaac Family 1968
Nancy, Sherry, Frank, Jeannette, Cindy
Frank was a dedicated member of the Gideons, who work together to spread the Word of God across the globe.
Frank and Jeannette circa 1970s
Frank holding granddaughter, Melissa Klassen, in January 1975
Isaac Family Portrait about 1976
front: Cindy, Jeannette, Sherry & Norman Fisher
back: Jean (née Kliewer) Isaac holding Mitchell, Gary, Frank, Stephen Klassen holding Melissa, Nancy
Frank and Jeannette circa 1980
Christmas 1982
Grandpa Frank with Lindsey Klassen and Sharla Kurr in the chair
Frank with granddaughters Melissa & Jessica Klassen
Isaac Family 1982 (missing Gary Isaac's family)
front: Julie Kurr, Lindsey Klassen, Sharla Kurr, Christian Fisher
middle: Melissa Klassen, Cindy, Nancy, Sherry, Jessica Klassen
back: Norman Fisher, Frank, Jeannette, Gary Kurr
Stephen Klassen was likely the photographer.
Christmas 1985
Frank with granddaughters Lindsey & Jessica Klassen and a gift of cologne.
Frank in his dune buggy, made by son-in-law Stephen Klassen, and his father, Orlando.
Ready for a parade
Frank with Cindy and grandchildren Julie, Jarrod and Sharla Kurr
Frank & Jeannette's 50th Wedding Anniversary, July 5, 1992
Isaac Family 1992 (missing Gary Isaac's family)
front: Nicholas Fisher, Jarrod Kurr, Julie Kurr, Sharla Kurr, Lindsey Klassen
back: Christian Fisher, Sherry, Cindy, Frank, Jeannette, Nancy, Melissa Klassen, Jessica Klassen
Once again, Stephen Klassen was the likely photographer.
Isaac Family 1992
Isaac Cousins 1992
November 2000
Frank and Jeannette with Nancy
Frank Isaac went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 5, 2001.