Mike Isetta

Mike Isetta passed away from heart failure at St. Mary?s Hospital in San Francisco. His family and many friends will always remember his powerful work ethic, his love of people, his love of animals, his generous, expansive personality, and his sense of humor.Born in San Francisco on June 1, 1930 to Sebastiano and Gelinda Isetta, he was raised in the Marina District, and was fiercely proud of his Italian heritage. After graduating from Galileo High School, he joined the U.S. Army, and served his country well as a Sergeant during the Korean War. Like many war heroes of his generation, he never complained about the horrors of combat he witnessed, nor did he offer any details until several years ago, at the urging of close family members. In 1955, he married his wife of 52 years, Margaret Brown. For more than five decades in San Francisco, they lived life to the fullest. Mike was a hardworking Teamster, a devoted family man, and an avid outdoorsman, skilled as a hunter and a horseman. They say that ducks mate for life, and it was never truer than with Marge and Mike. After she died this past November, it seemed as if more than half of Mike was gone, to a place far away. On Wednesday night, he completed that journey, in the company of his family and his dog. He slipped away quietly, at peace with himself and his destination.He is survived by his daughter, Kathryn Wickstrom-Karraker, his son-in law, Greg Karraker, by his granddaughter, Cynthia Wickstrom Zuniga, and his grandson-in-law, Marco Zuniga. He is also survived by his former son-in-law, Glenn Wickstrom, by his brother-in-law, Melvin Giorgi, by the nieces and nephews of the Giorgi family, and by three-year old Papillon, Tiny, who we guarantee will always be the best-cared for dog in the universe.Friends may visit after 4pm Monday and are invited to attend the Vigil Service Monday 7pm and the Funeral Liturgy Tuesday 11am from the chapels of Valente Marini Perata & Co., 4840 Mission St., SF, followed by Committal services at Holy Cross CemeteryIn lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to The American Cancer Society.Mike, you are reunited with Marge, your wife of 52 years. But the two of you will always be here with us. We love you. Memorials: Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718 Visitations: 4:00PM to 9:00PM on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at Valente Marini Perata & Co. (Prayer at 7:00PM) (map/driving directions) Services: 11:00AM at Valente Marini Perata & Co. on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery1500 Mission RoadColma, CA 94014 (map/driving directions)

Mike Isetta

June 1, 1930 - February 27, 2008