Manfred "Fred" Alexander Isserman, 92 years old, of Urbana died peacefully at home on Monday, June 18, 2012.

Fred was born in Berlin, Germany, on June 10, 1920. He attended the Theodor Herzl Jewish School with his sweetheart, Ellen (Kann) Isserman, to whom he was married on April 14, 1939. They escaped Germany together, spending a year in England before emigrating to the United States; very few members of either family survived the 1940s.

Fred enlisted in the United States Army in 1941. After initial training as a medic, he was transferred to US Army Intelligence at Camp Ritchie, MD. He spent the war in Europe as an interrogator in counterintelligence, ending as a Master Sergeant and receiving the bronze star and meritorious service medal, among other honors. Fred was invited to continue his service as an interrogator of high-ranking Nazi officials during the war crimes trials at Nuremberg. For the next two decades, he served as a major architect of American human intelligence operations in Europe. Fred finished his career with American intelligence in 1976 as Director of Operations of the 66th Military Intelligence Group in Munich and was honored with the Distinguished Civilian Achievement Award.

In 1976, he and Ellen purchased land in northeastern Connecticut and built their American dream home, where they entertained a broad circle of friends and family as he transitioned into a civilian career in realty, property development, and community service.

In 2003, Fred and Ellen moved to Urbana, IL. There, he continued his lifelong passions: he was a man of family, of books, of wine, and of learning.

He is survived by his wife, Ellen Kann Isserman, to whom he was married for 73 years; his daughter Marion Isserman Anderson and son-in-law Carroll Simms Anderson, his daughter-in-law Ellen Jacobsen-Isserman; grandchildren Ross Matthew Anderson, Jacob David Isserman (married to Emily Aron), Stuart Heath Anderson, Marta Stuyvesant Anderson, and Noah Jacobsen Isserman; and great-grandchild Henry Aaron Isserman. He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Mark Isserman of Urbana, IL.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, June 22, 2012 at the Mt. Hope Mausoleum, with Rabbi Rogerio Cukierman officiating. Burial in the cemetery will follow the service.

Condolences may be offered online at www.renner-wikoffchapel.com.