Franklin D. Isenberg

1946 - 2024

Franklin D Isenberg

March 13, 1946 - January 29, 2024

Boise, Idaho - Franklin D. Isenberg passed away on January 29, 2024 at the age of 77, after several years of illness related to heart disease and diabetes. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, he lived the majority of his life in Boise, Idaho and is survived by his wife Sarah Isenberg, grandson Escher Gloe, sister Jane Squires, step-daughter Melinda Myhre, and step-son Tom Gloe. Frank and Sarah were married for 38 years at the time of his passing.

Frank was a kind and caring person, with an outgoing personality, great wit, and incessant puns. He graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City in biology and music studies. He spent much of his professional life as an environmental health technician, for the FDA and the Idaho Department of Health. With his reprimands for health violations, he often added a joke and a pun and tried to bring smiles along with his inspections.

Frank was a gifted life-long musician playing first the violin and then the double bass, moving to Spokane, Washington, to play principal bass for the Spokane Symphony for 5 years before moving to Boise for a chair in the Boise Philharmonic and a health department job. He loved jazz, classical music especially Baroque, the blues, and most of all entertaining children with stories involving bass strings, high and low notes, and many boom-chickachickas.

In addition to his music, AA was important in Frank's life and he acted as sponsor and friend for many, as well as mentoring incarcerated people in the AA program. He was a member of the First Church of Christ in Boise and also attended the Unitarian Church. As well as a spiritual life, Frank led an active life for many of his years. He found balance and centeredness in yoga and was an avid runner and ultra-marathoner. He completed numerous 5 and 10 K races as well as several ultra-marathons. Frank cared about his family and loved ones, the environment, human rights, and others less fortunate. By example, he lived a giving and non-judgmental life.

A celebration of life will be planned for a later date.

Donations in Frank's honor can be made to the charity of your choice.

In honor of Frank, tell a joke or pun and don't groan at the bad ones that come your way.