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Philip C. Isaksson

Philip Charles Isaksson, age 25, left the dugout peacefully February 8, 2015 surrounded by his family and headed toward the mound to start in Heaven’s Championship Game. He will be missed by the countless number of people whose lives he touched.

Phil was born on March 17, 1989 in Eau Claire. He excelled at his favorite sport of baseball from Little League through college. Before graduating from Eau Claire North High School in 2007, Phil and his amazing curveball left their mark in the record books. He compiled three of the top five strikeout seasons in school history and set records for the most career innings pitched (178), strikeouts (296) and wins (25). As a senior he went 8-0 with a 0.35 ERA, 104 strikeouts and batted .400 and led North to the WIAA Division 1 State Semifinals. He was named the 2007 Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association State Player of the Year.

Phil went on to pitch for the Gophers at the University of Minnesota. In his junior season he went 6-2 with a 3.72 ERA and 57 strikeouts for the Gophers 2010 Big Ten Championship team. Phil graduated 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. He went on to work for Target as an Executive Team Leader.

Phil lived his life to the fullest, making many lifelong friends along the way. He was still in the early innings of his life when he was diagnosed with cancer in 2012. Phil will be remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor, smile and zest for adventure. He held a black belt in karate, enjoyed country music and loved fishing for musky with a cold Milwaukee’s Best Light or Mt. Dew.

Phil will forever remain in the hearts of his parents, Steve and Carol (Bolen) Isaksson; siblings, Rachel (Nicholas) Vogel, Nick (Amanda) Isaksson, and Missy Isaksson; maternal grandparents, Paul and Jeanne Bolen; paternal grandparents, Stewart and Nancy Isaksson; and many extended relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Phil’s Life will be held from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2015 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, WI. All are encouraged to wear their favorite Gopher, Husky or Packer attire and to bring a written memory of Phil for his family. In lieu of flowers, the family is creating a memorial fund in Phil’s honor.