Obituary of Bruce Kay Gessel

Bruce Gessel, of Herndon, Virginia died Wednesday 5 April 2017 in Reston Hospital after a fight against bladder cancer. Born in Logan, Utah in 1941, to Karl and Elizabeth “Betty” Gessel (nee Hickman). Bruce was a national merit scholar and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Roosevelt University. Bruce lived in Utah, Idaho, Nebraska, and Alaska during his youth before he joined the Air Force where he served in Vietnam as a Navigator. He retired from military service at the rank of Captain after over 12 years of military service. One of his many decorations includes the Distinguished Flying Cross. Bruce traveled the country from his beginnings in the private sector as a computer programmer in San Francisco, CA to his retirement as an IT account executive in Falls Church, VA. An avid skier, Bruce spent time in Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, and many Stateside resorts. Bruce is survived by his wife of 41 years, Debra; and his daughters Laura, Sharon, Halley, and Madeleine. He is also survived by his two brothers Bryan and Jim and sister Holly. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his memory to the Masonic-Eastern Star Children’s Home in Fremont, NE, a charity with which Bruce had a personal connection. http://www.meshc.org/contact-us.html