Funeral service will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – SOUTH chapel in New Ulm with Pastor Scott Oelhafen officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm.

Visitation will be from noon-1 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – SOUTH chapel in New Ulm.

The Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes of New Ulm are assisting the family with arrangements at this time.

To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

John Richard Isch was born in Park Falls, Wisconsin, on Oct. 1, 1936, the son of Delbert H. Isch and Lucille (Hepfinger) Isch. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Medford, Wisconsin where John attended Immanuel Lutheran School in Medford. When he was nine, his father died. He received his secondary school education at Dr. Martin Luther High School in New Ulm, Minnesota. After graduation he enrolled in Dr. Martin Luther College and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He taught in elementary schools in Plymouth and Hadar, Nebraska. He took graduate courses at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and received a Master of Education Degree in 1966. In 1970 he began teaching at Dr. Martin Luther College. In 1976 he received a PhD from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He taught psychology and methods courses at (Dr.) Martin Luther College and served as director of special services, chairman of the Education Division, and director of the graduate program. He retired from the college in 2004. He served on the boards of United Way, Brown County Historical Society, Wanda Gag House Association, and the Minnesota Non-public School Accreditation Association. He authored several books on Christian Education and the US-Dakota War of 1862. John was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Mary.

He is survived by his brother, William; his nieces Marie, Diane, and Shari; and his nephews Robert, Sem, and Lee.

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