Bassett Family Association Database

Robert Dusenbury

Male 1925 - 2017  (91 years)


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  • Name Robert Dusenbury 
    Born 4 Dec 1925 
    Gender Male 
    Died 23 Sep 2017 
    Notes 
    • Anacortes American, October 4, 2017
      Robert ?Bob? Dusenbury (Picture included)
      December 4, 1925 ? September 23, 2017

      Bob was born to Warren and Jessie Dusenbury on December 4, 1925, in Newark, New Jersey. He went to the Lord on September 23, 2017. At the time of his passing he was living at the Lighthouse Memory Care Center in Anacortes, WA.

      His father (an automotive engineer for the REO Auto Car Company) passed away when Bob was two years old. The family moved to East Orange, New Jersey, where his mother had a shop selling baby clothes. Bob attended the Columbian Grade School across the street from his Mom's shop. Bob helped with the household expenses by selling newspapers for the Daily Courier and East Orange Daily News and later worked on a chicken farm with his brother Bill.

      When Bob was 11 years old, he spent the summer visiting his Uncle Henry (Dick) Loomis and his wife Barbara. Dick taught Bob to sail in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This was the beginning of many happy sails for Bob.

      On Halloween night in 1940, Bob attended a barn dance at a Methodist Church. He met his wife, Virginia Bassett, at this dance - it was love at first sight.

      Bob received his high school diploma and joined the Navy in October 1942. He served as a Petty Officer, Motor Machinist Mate on LST 281 (Landing Ship Tank). He delivered tanks and supplies to the Charlie Sector on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. Later, Bob served in Guam where he helped construct underwater sonar devices.

      When the War was over, Bob visited Bill in Montana. Bob loved Montana and decided to buy 7 lots in Missoula, upon which he built his first house. In September 1946, he married his love, Virginia, and she moved from New Jersey to Missoula. They finished their degrees (Bob - Forestry and Range, Virginia - Art) at the University of Montana. During the summer breaks, Bob worked as a smoke jumper flying out of Missoula.

      Paul, their first son, was born in February 1950. Michael was born in May 1951.

      In 1955, the family moved to a farm near Charlo, Montana. Bob worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) while Ginny and the boys tended the farm and livestock.

      Bob was transferred to Fort Peck BIA in December 1965 and worked as a Land Operations Officer. The family moved to Wolf Point, Montana. In 1973, Bob was transferred to Flagstaff, Arizona, as an Administrative Manager. He later transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and took a job in Cedar City, Utah, as a Manager for the writing of the first Grazing Environmental Statement in Utah.

      Upon his retirement from the federal government in 1981, he and Virginia moved to Anacortes where Bob started Dusenbury Marine Services. In their spare time, Bob and Virginia spent many hours sailing their 40' sailboat, Kaimi, around Puget Sound.

      Bob and Virginia have been active in church and loved to sing in the choir - Bob sang bass and Virginia sang tenor.

      In 1994, Bob and Virginia started building churches for the Mission Builders of the ELCA. They built 9 churches in various states.

      In 2002, Bob retired to his garage where he carved Hopi Kachina dolls and fan birds. He also built several large replicas of sailing ships.

      Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings - Edna Sayre, Madeline Maxwell, Helen Maril, and Bill Dusenbury.

      Bob is survived by his wife and two sons - Paul (Julie) of Anacortes, and Michael (Debra) of Billings, Montana. Bob was blessed with five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

      Memorial service will be held at the Anacortes Lutheran Church on Friday, October 6, 2017, at 2 p.m.

      As Bob would say - Now Let's Get To Work!
    Person ID I18651  14B Jean Besset of Quebec
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2017 

    Family Virginia Lee Bassett,   b. 21 Feb 1927, Montclair, New Jersey Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 Aug 2022  (Age 95 years) 
    Last Modified 12 Nov 2017 
    Family ID F6891  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart