William (Bill) Bessel of Warren, passed away on March 26, 2008 at Fr. Murray Nursing Home at the age of 100. He was born August 16, 1907 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Mr. Bessel immigrated to the United States in 1928 at the age of 21.
He was employed by the Federal Engineering Company in the Tool & Die Industry and retired in 1969. In 1937 Bill along with a few friends founded the "Essener Freunde", an organization dedicated to the preservation of Karneval. He was the Presdient for 16 years and in 1977 on their 40th Anniversary became their Honorary (Ehren) President.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's Bill was an active member of various commities of the Michigan Relief for Germans in the homeland. In 1940 Bill became a member of the Männerchor Rheingold. He was the National Director of the North American Singers Union at the time of the 42nd Song Festival held in Detroit in 1955.
Bill was the Chairman of th Deutshe Tag for many years and in 1977 he received the coveted and well-deserved "German-American of the Year" Award. That same year he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the Federal Republic of Germany. He also reigned as Prince William I with his Princess Emmi I in the Karneval of 1977 with the "Essener Freunde".
In 1978 he married his Princess Emmi who in later years has become his Guardian Angel.
Bill lived a long and rich life in the German community of clubs and On August 16, 2007 at celebration to honor those 100 years was held.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Emmi; stepchildren, Monika (Gerhard) Mathy and Hans (Anne Marie) Schuster; grandchildren, Heidi (Rodney), Randy (Rebecca) and Christopher (Jaclyn) and great grandchildren, Randy Jr., Amanda, Savannah and Mia.
He was predeceased by his 3 brothers.
Mr. Bessel immigrated to the United States in 1928 at the age of 21.
He was employed by the Federal Engineering Company in the Tool & Die Industry and retired in 1969. In 1937 Bill along with a few friends founded the "Essener Freunde", an organization dedicated to the preservation of Karneval. He was the Presdient for 16 years and in 1977 on their 40th Anniversary became their Honorary (Ehren) President.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's Bill was an active member of various commities of the Michigan Relief for Germans in the homeland. In 1940 Bill became a member of the Männerchor Rheingold. He was the National Director of the North American Singers Union at the time of the 42nd Song Festival held in Detroit in 1955.
Bill was the Chairman of th Deutshe Tag for many years and in 1977 he received the coveted and well-deserved "German-American of the Year" Award. That same year he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the Federal Republic of Germany. He also reigned as Prince William I with his Princess Emmi I in the Karneval of 1977 with the "Essener Freunde".
In 1978 he married his Princess Emmi who in later years has become his Guardian Angel.
Bill lived a long and rich life in the German community of clubs and On August 16, 2007 at celebration to honor those 100 years was held.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Emmi; stepchildren, Monika (Gerhard) Mathy and Hans (Anne Marie) Schuster; grandchildren, Heidi (Rodney), Randy (Rebecca) and Christopher (Jaclyn) and great grandchildren, Randy Jr., Amanda, Savannah and Mia.
He was predeceased by his 3 brothers.
William (Bill) Bessel of Warren, passed away on March 26, 2008 at Fr. Murray Nursing Home at the age of 100. He was born August 16, 1907 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
Mr. Bessel immigrated to the United States in 1928 at the age of 21.
He was employed by the Federal Engineering Company in the Tool & Die Industry and retired in 1969. In 1937 Bill along with a few friends founded the "Essener Freunde", an organization dedicated to the preservation of Karneval. He was the Presdient for 16 years and in 1977 on their 40th Anniversary became their Honorary (Ehren) President.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's Bill was an active member of various commities of the Michigan Relief for Germans in the homeland. In 1940 Bill became a member of the Männerchor Rheingold. He was the National Director of the North American Singers Union at the time of the 42nd Song Festival held in Detroit in 1955.
Bill was the Chairman of th Deutshe Tag for many years and in 1977 he received the coveted and well-deserved "German-American of the Year" Award. That same year he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the Federal Republic of Germany. He also reigned as Prince William I with his Princess Emmi I in the Karneval of 1977 with the "Essener Freunde".
In 1978 he married his Princess Emmi who in later years has become his Guardian Angel.
Bill lived a long and rich life in the German community of clubs and On August 16, 2007 at celebration to honor those 100 years was held.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Emmi; stepchildren, Monika (Gerhard) Mathy and Hans (Anne Marie) Schuster; grandchildren, Heidi (Rodney), Randy (Rebecca) and Christopher (Jaclyn) and great grandchildren, Randy Jr., Amanda, Savannah and Mia.
He was predeceased by his 3 brothers.
Mr. Bessel immigrated to the United States in 1928 at the age of 21.
He was employed by the Federal Engineering Company in the Tool & Die Industry and retired in 1969. In 1937 Bill along with a few friends founded the "Essener Freunde", an organization dedicated to the preservation of Karneval. He was the Presdient for 16 years and in 1977 on their 40th Anniversary became their Honorary (Ehren) President.
In the late 1940's and early 1950's Bill was an active member of various commities of the Michigan Relief for Germans in the homeland. In 1940 Bill became a member of the Männerchor Rheingold. He was the National Director of the North American Singers Union at the time of the 42nd Song Festival held in Detroit in 1955.
Bill was the Chairman of th Deutshe Tag for many years and in 1977 he received the coveted and well-deserved "German-American of the Year" Award. That same year he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz from the Federal Republic of Germany. He also reigned as Prince William I with his Princess Emmi I in the Karneval of 1977 with the "Essener Freunde".
In 1978 he married his Princess Emmi who in later years has become his Guardian Angel.
Bill lived a long and rich life in the German community of clubs and On August 16, 2007 at celebration to honor those 100 years was held.
Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Emmi; stepchildren, Monika (Gerhard) Mathy and Hans (Anne Marie) Schuster; grandchildren, Heidi (Rodney), Randy (Rebecca) and Christopher (Jaclyn) and great grandchildren, Randy Jr., Amanda, Savannah and Mia.
He was predeceased by his 3 brothers.
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