PETER EDWIN ISAACSON

Peter Edwin Isaacson passed at his home near Tekoa, WA. He was surrounded by his wife Bess and daughter Ava Cocking and Nathan Cocking on December 21, 2025. He was 79 years old and lost his battle with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer. Peter loved his family first; his teaching students geological science second; and third his lifelong passion for finding Devonian fossils in the Andes of South America. He traveled to many countries in search of those Limestone rocks where the Devonian Brachiopods, Corals, and Trilobites would hide. Always working with students and colleagues from many countries solving the mystery of Gondowana & Plate Tectonics of our early earth.

Peter was born in Seattle, WA on March 29,1946; he grew up with beloved lifelong childhood friends in the Highlands, Seattle. He graduated high school at Lakeside Class 1964; BA University of Colorado, Boulder 1968; PhD. Oregon State Univ, Corvallis, Oregon 1974. He taught at Univ of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass 1974-1978. He was Professor in the Geological Science Dept University of Idaho 1978-2017. From 2017-2024 he was Emeritus Professor UI in Boise, ID. He was awarded two Fulbright Scholars: 1987 to Czechoslovakia; 2011 to Argentina. 1990 National Academy of Science Scholar exchange Czechoslovakia;1994 Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Faculty Award. Peter was a good man who will be loved and missed by his family and friends but always remembered for his sense of humor and his shyness regarding all various science and grant awards.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years Elizabeth Paullus Isaacson; born May 1949 in Marshall County, TN; his children Anna Lydia Bates husband Jerod Bates; grandson Robinson Edwin Cook, of Boise Id; Ava Nora Cocking, husband Nathan Cocking; granddaughter Evelyn Elizabeth Bell Cocking and grandson Leroy Theodore Cocking; of Spokane Valley, WA and sister Lucy Isaacson-Logen husband Dean Logen of Seattle, WA. Remembrances may be donated to the UI Arboretum & Botanical Gardens to help fund a tree planting in memory of Peter Edwin Isaacson...Contact: UI Jen Root (jroot@uidaho.edu)

Celebration of Life : tentative date: March 28, 2026 at the Lookout Restaurant on UI Golf Course. As he always loved planting trees wherever we would move to next. He loved everything to do with train history and traveling on them. He always enjoyed walking with his wife.

Kramer Funeral Home, Palouse, WA is caring for the family. Online condolences may be left at www.kramercares.com