Henry Warren Kassel passed away peacefully on July 23. He was 87. He is survived by his daughter, Dana Wilson (Carl) of Spokane, his brother, Raymond Kassel of Nevada and Iowa, nephew, Kevin Kassel, and nieces Roslyn Dunblazier and Stephanie Kassel, each from Iowa.
Mr. Kassel was born Nov. 1, 1921 in Mason City, Iowa to Henry Jacob and Eva Lulu Kassel. Mr. Kassel graduated from Mason City Jr. College in 1941 and Iowa State University in 1943 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. Having always possessed a love for aviation, upon graduating college Mr. Kassel went to work for Douglas Aircraft Co. in California.
In May 1944, Mr. Kassel enlisted in the U.S. Navy with hopes of becoming an aviator, however a minor health issue prevented that dream from becoming reality. Instead, he served his country proudly for two years as a radio communicator, having been stationed in Texas, Mississippi and ultimately at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, Wash. It was there that Mr. Kassel fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and decided to make it his home.
In 1946, after receiving his honorable discharge from the Navy, Mr. Kassel accepted a position at The Boeing Co. in Seattle, where his career as an aeronautical engineer would last for 39 years. While working for Boeing, Mr. Kassel also attended the University of Washington, where he earned a masters degree in mechanical engineering in 1958.
In 1955 Henry married the love of his life, Janet Elaine Rose. They had two children, John and Dana. Henry was a generous, loving and devoted husband and father who always cherished his family above all else. Both his wife, Janet, and son, John, passed away in 1981 of heart disease.
Despite the devastating loss of wife and son, Mr. Kassel never let his grief dictate the path his life would take. He discovered his love for world travel, became an active volunteer in Boeing outreach programs, regularly attended opera and symphony events, continued his active involvement with Magnolia United Church of Christ, eagerly awaited his weekly golf game with fellow retirees, and of course would never pass up the opportunity to enjoy Happy Hour with cherished friends!
These were all joys to him but anyone who knew Mr. Kassel would also know that his greatest happiness in life was spending time with his daughter, Dana. The two of them always shared a special bond that would never be diminished by the constraints of death.
Mr. Kassel's final years were spent in Spokane, in order to be near Dana and her husband, Carl, during his cruel bout with Alzheimer's. Even throughout the progression of the disease, Mr. Kassel never lost his dry sense of humor and quick wit, a testimony to his interminable optimistic outlook on life. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, July 31, at Magnolia United Church of Christ, 3555 W. McGraw, Seattle, Wash. Private burial will be at Evergreen-Washelli in Seattle. Memorial suggestions include your local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), The American Heart Association (www. americanheart.org) or your favorite charity. The staff at both Rockwood Retirement (South Hill) and Riverview Care Center provided Henry gentle care and dignity during his final years and his family is deeply grateful to everyone who played a role in that.
"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountaintop, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."[[In-content Ad]]
