Richard Loesel

Captain Richard Orville Loesel, USNR, age 88, of Erie, PA, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, September 24, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. 

A son of the late George Orville and Mary Anstead Loesel, Richard was born on March 8, 1929, in Erie.

He graduated from Strong Vincent High School in 1947 and Thiel College in 1951.  Richard served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 through 1955 as a deck officer on board the USS Whitemarsh, LSD 8 and with Underwater Demolition Team 22. He served in the Reserves from 1955 through 1978 in various UDT/SEAL billets, the last of which was SEAL adviser to Chief of Atlantic Fleet before retiring from the Navy.   Richard was also an owner of Loesel-Schaaf Insurance Agency, Inc. from 1955 through 1989 retiring as president. 

Richard was a charter member of UDT/Seal Association; a charter and life member of UDT/Seal Museum, Fort Pierce; and held various positions in the Erie Navy Reserve. An active member and past commodore of the Erie Yacht Club, he raced sailboats for more than 50 years.  In 1986, Richard was awarded the Thompson Memorial Trophy for the outstanding “Yachtsman of the Year.”  He was also a life member of the Maennerchor and Navy Reserve Association and a member of American Legion Post 945, the Niagara League, Community Blood Bank, and American Heart Association, where he served as treasurer for 10 years. Richard was a 60-year member of both Perry-Keystone Lodge No. 392 F.& A.M. and Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Erie and a life member of the Zem Zem Shriners.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Louise Kennedy Loesel, and sister-in-law, Suzanne Loesel.

Survivors include two sons: David K. Loesel and his wife, Micki, and Douglas A. Loesel and his wife, Jody, all of Erie; a daughter, Amy L. Mitchell, and her husband, Kent, of Waterford; six grandchildren: Lt. Commander Leigh Loesel, USN (Kristy), Katie Loesel (Luke Cady), Julie Loesel Vanchieri (Dominic, DO), Andrew Mitchell (Beth), Kelsey Mitchell Whittelsey (Lee), Ryan Mitchell (Filomena). Also surviving are his five great grandchildren, Ethan and Gavin Mitchell, Elouise and Finley Whittelsey, and Silvana Mitchell; a sister, Cynthia Taylor; a brother, George “Gib” Loesel; and several nieces and nephews. The family also extends a special thank you to a dear friend, Douglas Nagle iii.

Friends are invited to call on the family on Friday, September 29^th, from 11am until the time of the memorial service at 1pm at Burton Funeral Home, 602 West 10^th Street.  A celebration of life will follow at the Erie Yacht Club from 2:00 – 4:00.  Burial will be private.  Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 1645 West 8^th Street, Erie PA  16505 or Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, OH 44193-1655  

 Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.