On Tuesday, March 8, 2016, a wonderful man and great father, Karl Everett Beisel, peacefully passed away to stand at the side of our Lord. He died of natural causes in Virginia Beach at the age of 98 (pictured in 1944 at age 27). Karl was born in Portsmouth, where he lived a large part of his life before moving to Virginia Beach. He often stated, ‘I liked growing up and living in Portsmouth because, as everyone knows, it is the center of the universe!’
Karl lived an active, interesting and celebrated life as a man known for many qualities and talents. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth where he was voted ‘best dressed’ in his class. He later served in the U.S. Army. His interest in music eventually led him to play trumpet for a while with the Tommy Dorsey band.
Thereafter, returning to Portsmouth, Karl went to work for the federal government, staying 36 years before retiring in 1976. While working there, he completed a four-year Naval Architect Apprentice Program and passed the rigorous exam to earn his registered professional engineer (PE) designation. During World War II, he helped design many ships for the war effort, including the Battleship Alabama, which was built in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. After retiring from the federal government, Karl began a second career with Tidewater Construction Company doing similar work for another 10 years. His deep religious views aligned well with St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, where he became a member and served in that capacity for nearly 40 years.
Karl was liked by many for his wholesome beliefs and admirable work ethic, which quickly worked its way into wise council for his children, family and friends. He left a positive impression on nearly everyone he met and will be remembered for his warm smile, good nature, intelligence and creative thinking.
Shortly after World War II, he married Anita Jones (Miss Portsmouth 1939), with whom he spent many happy years and was blessed with four children. Karl cherished those children helping shape their ethics and work standards. He believed a person’s values were based on their actions and deeds. Karl was also known for his many clever sayings, most recently joking, ‘I was the smartest student in my Wilson High graduating class, and at 98, there’s nobody left to dispute it!’ Or, about graduating from college, ‘You don’t need to graduate from Harvard because once in the work place, all graduates are simply called college graduates!’
Later in life, Karl remarried, sharing many happy years with Mary Esther Beisel (known to all as ‘Esther’), a dedicated wife who loved him dearly. She cared diligently for Karl throughout their marriage, including the later and more difficult part of his life. Esther was remarkable in the way she tirelessly cared for Karl in his final years, providing emotional kindness and companionship, attending to him with careful and tender assistance.
Left to cherish Karl’s memory are his wife, Mary Esther Beisel; daughters, Jill Beisel Roskowski, and husband, Tom, Heidi Beisel Workman, and husband, Keith, Wilma Bohling House, and husband, Gary, and Judy Esther Mercer, and husband, Mark; sons, Karl Edward Beisel, Chris Everett Beisel, and wife, Joan, and Tommy Bohling, and wife, Nelly; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Beisel family expresses their heart-felt thank you to the staff and management of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for their terrific care, with particular thanks to Chaplain Keith Willyard.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, at the Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Bayside Chapel. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 18, at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Rosewood Memorial Park.
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