Robert David Besel

Robert David (O'Connell) BESEL Robert David (O'Connell) Besel passed away on January 28, 2011 in Tacoma, Washington. Bob was born on August 21, 1968 in Bellevue, Washington, to parents Ronald Besel of Bremerton and Barbara Riley of Anchorage, Alaska. Throughout Bob's life he was a member of the Army National Guard, serving at Ft. Lewis and Ft. Richardson. He worked in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, crewing on crab boats and was a member of the Ironworkers Local 751 (Anchorage, Alaska) and Local 86 (Seattle, Washington). After helping to build the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge, he became a team member with the DOT Maintenance crew, which he considered a part of his family. While Bob enjoyed many pursuits, his favorite became surfing, which he learned while working in Hawaii. He continued to enjoy the sport back in Westport. A graveside service was held on Friday, February 4, 2011 at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue, Washington. Bob was preceded in death by grandfather Sam Besel and grandmother Arlene (Brown) Pool and is survived by son Colton W. Heaverly, Lynnwood, son Ryan O'Connell, Steilacoom, and daughter Megan O'Connell, Steilacoom, sister Erina Nelson, Anchorage, AK, grandmother Mildred Connell, Mountlake Terrace, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. A Memorial Service will be held at Livingway Church in Lakewood (8605 Washington Blvd SW) at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 12, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health), DATR or DNBBS research.