Rodney A. Isaksen of Rio Grande passed away on July 17th, 2026. Rod was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 14, 1941 to his parents Kristian and Winnie E. Isaksen, who had emigrated from Norway. He grew up in Morris County, NJ in the Lake Telemark area, moved to New Mexico as a young man, and later relocated to South Jersey where he would spend the better part of 50 years alongside his loving wife Sharon.

Rod was an experienced welder and machinist, and he was a commercial fisherman for much of his life. When he wasn’t out on the water, he enjoyed tinkering around in his garage, riding motorcycles, fishing with his daughters (and later his grandchildren), playing with his beloved dogs (the late Magee and Maddy), gardening, and spending time with his family and many friends. He was a member of the Black Sheep Motorcycle Club where he enjoyed time on his Honda Shadow, and he was an avid fan of the Phillies and the Philadelphia Eagles. Rod loved to laugh, was mischievous, and often played pranks on the ones he loved. He also had a heart of gold, and he would always go out of his way to help his neighbors, friends, family, and even the random stranded motorist. In fact, he was a hero who saved the life of a fellow crewman when the boat that he was working on sank off of the NJ coast in 1978.

Rod is predeceased by his parents, his loving stepmother Bernice Isaksen, his brother Kristian “Ike” Isaksen, his sister Helene Isaksen-Halstead, and step brothers Dennis, Edward, and Kenneth Coleman.

He leaves behind his devoted wife Sharon Isaksen, his four daughters Diane Alton (Michael), Lorrie McManus (John Harp), Jennifer Contreras (Alfredo), and Jessica Isaksen; his grandchildren Michelle, Christina, Randy, Benjamin, Salvatore, Jonathan, Cameron, Gabriel, and Anastasia, his ten great-grandchildren, many in-laws who adored him, and several nieces and nephews.

Rod will be cremated, and his celebration of life will be announced at a later date.