William "Bill" Geissel

1937 - 2017

William "Bill" Geissel
1937 - 2017

Bill was born June 27, 1937, in Bakersfield, CA, to Evelyn Jane Finley and Irvin Lewis Geissel. He passed away September 1, 2017 in Bakersfield, CA. He lived in Taft most of his life. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School and graduated from Taft Union High School in 1955. He married his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Bromley, in 1956. He and Carolyn went on to have three children, Bill Jr., Robert, and Jill. Bill worked many jobs to support his young family, even selling insurance in the Los Angeles area. Selling insurance was not his forte, and his ties to Taft soon brought him back. After returning to the Taft area, he went to work for Standard Oil in the Mechanical Dept. He learned quickly that he was more interested in pursuing opportunities in the electrical profession. He excelled in this field and soon left Standard Oil to go to work for Humes Electric. In 1977, he married the love of his life, Glenda. He became Vice President of Humes Electric and stayed with them for 25 years. He and Glenda decided in 1987 to start their own company, and Advanced Electrical was born. He and Glenda ran the company as a women-owned business for 19 years. Bill loved the challenge of the bidding process, especially since Bill Jr. was his top estimator and worked alongside his father. Bill and Glenda sold the business in 2006. Bill continued to work as a consultant with Ardent Electric and then later for PCL. He finally decided to retire so he could spend more time golfing and fishing.

His love for boats was wildly known, as he owned seven boats over the 40 years that he and Glenda were together. Bill and Glenda were both licensed pilots and owned three airplanes. Glenda always said she was not going up in an airplane unless she knew how to land it. Bill and Glenda enjoyed their motor home travels as well, and all the friends they met along the way.

Bill golfed every Tuesday and Thursday with the best guys ever, and he cherished the time he spent with them.

Bill and Glenda spent many years fishing in Sitka, AK, with good friends. Bill was featured in Western Outdoor News for catching a 68.5-pound halibut on 20-pound test line. He was very proud of that. They enjoyed their trips to Pittsburgh to see his Steelers. On the most recent trip, they were able to include a trip to Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg. He loved our country's history and had a great time. He was a Steeler fan through and through. Bill loved life to the fullest, and his family was the most important thing in the world to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents. Bill is survived by his wife, Glenda; and children, Bill Geissel Jr., Robert Geissel, Jill Lake, and Stephanie Layton; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara Geissel, Calleen Geissel, Conrad Lake, and John Stuntebeck; grandchildren, Amanda, Braiden, Lauren, Samantha, Allison, Carson, Cohl, Jack, and Harry; great-grandchildren, Grayson, Hudson, Alexis, Candis, and Jolene; brothers, Richard Geissel, Jay Glenn; and sister, Judy Simental.

His biggest regret was not being able to serve his country. So please, in lieu of flowers, make a donation to Honor Flight of Kern County.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church, 220 North St., Taft, CA, on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, at 10 a.m. A celebration of his life will be held immediately following the services, at O.T.'s Cook House, 205 No. 10th St. For condolences, please visit www.GreenlawnM-C.com

Greenlawn Funeral Home Southwest