William Gene Roeseler

William Gene Roeseler William Gene "Billy" Roeseler lived life out loud, and he befriended openly. He resided on Cedar Flat, his Whidbey Island Paradise and in the California desert. Billy passed on the 11th day of March, 2023 surrounded by family in Hood River, Oregon.

Born 17 February, 1943 to Ernest and Grace Cain Roeseler of Rockford, Illinois, Billy grew up in Racine, WI where he learned fast that he could fix anything. When the family ski boat lacked power, he built wider water skis and saucers on which to skim and spin.

A Park high school valedictorian and top recruit, he earned both a bachelors and a masters degree in aeronautical engineering, at MIT. Billy served as President of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Together with his first wife, Susan Molly Dorothy Hoberman, Billy created a family, with Kristi, Charles, and Cory. They resided on the Kirkland waterfront. Foster daughters, Ellen and Deborah, were among the first young women who benefited from Billy's generosity.

Boeing had recruited Billy straight out of MIT in 1965. His accolades and 45-year contribution to the aerospace industry are legendary. The unidirectional carbon fiber door spring on the Boeing 767 is still the hardest working composite structure in commercial aviation.

In 1978, Billy married Marlene (Brook) Burnell, who came with her children Midge, Mark, and Eric. They resided in Medina until 1982, when Billy & Brook moved onto a 46-foot Chris Craft in Yarrow Bay, and downsized. The live-aboard later became home to Grandchildren Lena and Lyle Kelly.

Billy began SkySail Progress in the mid 80s. From there Kiteski evolved to the new sport of kiteboarding & kitesurfing, and Billy's 1979 speed sailing vision materialized.

Billy worked 3 jobs in San Diego while going broke and winning the '92 America's Cup with Billionaire Beta Brother Bill Koch.

Billy Co-founded the Canyon Space Team and hosted live rocket engine tests at his home in Juanita. After the local fire department shut him down, Billy built water-rockets for the grandkids to race through the streets.

AA was a huge part of Billy's life, keeping him sane, grounded and fit. He acheived 42 years of sobriety and sponsored many recovering addicts. Regular meetings were held on Tiger Mountain. Billy's OSAT friends are among his favorites.

Billy documented with great detail, life on Cedar Flat, his Whidbey Island playground. He and Brook bought Free Willy, then Free Will, and they enjoyed the free-spirited motor home life as snowbirds together from 2008 until her passing in April 2019.

Billy is survived by his children Kristi Christman, Charles Roeseler, Cory Roeseler, Marguerite "Midge" Kelly, Mark Paschall and Eric Paschall. Also 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Rima Kazemekaitis in FL & Micki Burnell in WA; and nieces and nephews from Kenosha WI to Seattle, WA. And Lulu, his dog.

Billy's business card reads "Unconditional Love." He lived loud, made us think, and inspired us to love fearlessly."

A celebration of life will be held from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM on March 26, 2023 at Heathman Hotel, 220 Kirkland Ave, Kirkand, WA