William "Mr. Bill" Edward Anspach

to Sidney K. Anspach and Elizabeth R. Kimmel. Bill grew up in Newport News, VA, where he attended school and graduated from Newport News High School in 1961. He played #22 on the varsity basketball team and was voted “Best Dressed” by his classmates, many of whom he remained close with his entire life.

Bill attended NASA Langley Research Center’s Apprentice Program in Hampton, VA, after high school, where his mentor encouraged him to pursue a college education. Taking his advice, Bill attended Virginia Tech and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After graduation, Bill took a job in Caracas, Venezuela, working for Schlumberger (now SLB), and then transitioned to technical sales working for several companies in Hendersonville, NC, New York City, NY, and for Industrial Nucleonics (now AccuRay) in Columbus, OH. Everywhere Bill went, he made lifelong friendships. And it was with two of these friends from Columbus that Bill was recruited to run a trophy manufacturing company, B&E Trophy, in Billings, MT, which eventually moved him to Spokane, WA, in the late 1970’s.

Bill always had a thirst for self-improvement and reinvention. It was in Spokane, WA, that he started his first business with his “trash and trinkets” company, Advertising Specialty Enterprises. It was out of this business that he developed ASE Marketing: an incentive marketing business that would blossom into a 10-year adventure working with many top brands, including Apple, Magnavox and Gear for Sports. This also precipitated his move to the greater Seattle area. When Bayliner, one of his clients, wanted a wristwatch to offer as a premium, Bill found a watch company to work with and this connection proved providential; it propelled him to launch Seattle Watch Company in 1995.

Watches would become Bill’s passion for the rest of his life. Over his 30-year career in watches, Bill produced wristwatches for Tourneau, Eddie Bauer, Cabela’s and his longest client relationship, L.L. Bean. He loved working with people and had long-term personal relationships with each supplier and client. In 2008 Bill created Swiss Delta, his very own watch brand with the help of his son Barret. Bill was very proud of the watches he made—they were a reflection of his own classic style and meticulous attention to detail.

An entrepreneur, Bill always had his eyes wide to an opportunity and an open door. He never took “no” for an answer, and this persistence came in handy when he began his hobby of real estate development. But for Bill, many of his passions were just a means and a vehicle for developing relationships—with neighbors, city planners, real estate agents, and later on his tenants, whom he dearly cared for. Giving back was also very important to Bill. He served on the boards for AtWork and the Hood Canal Gravel Mine Opposition Association, and was so proud of the work he and others accomplished at these organizations for the community.

Bill met his beautiful wife Kari in Spokane in the early 1980’s. They fell in love and married in 1984, and had two wonderful children, Jessika and Barret. Bill was a devoted husband and father, turning all his attention to providing above and beyond for his family. He loved Jessika and Barret deeply. He was always present, encouraging and supportive of their passions, and loved being a grandfather to their children Evelyn, Kaleb and Estes. They were a great source of joy and amazement to him in his last years. Bill deeply loved his brother Chuck, sisters Carol and Kathleen, extended family and friends, always having time for an encouraging word or to provide advice. His friendships were enduring and really his lifeblood.

But most of all, Bill loved Jesus. He gave his life to the Lord as a child but renewed his faith in 1995 at a Promise Keepers event at the King Dome in Seattle. He spent every morning with his well-worn devotional and Bible, and faithfully met with his Monday morning Men’s Group every week to study and pray. A born evangelist, Bill shared his faith boldly with almost everyone he met, as well as the blessings of a personal relationship with God.

Bill was called Home unexpectedly yet peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus, on Tuesday April 16th, 2024. But we know where he is and know we will see him again!

Bill is survived by his wife, Kari Nelson Anspach; his children, Jessika Anspach McEliece (Ryan) Renton, WA, and Wm. Barret Anspach, Seattle, WA; Bill’s grandchildren, Evelyn, Kaleb, and Estes; Brother Charles (Chuck) Anspach and wife Sandy, Clayton, NC, and Sister Kathleen McDowell, Manitowoc, WI. Bill was preceded in death by his sister Carol Litzinger.

You are invited to celebrate Bill’s life and legacy on May 18th at 1pm at Westminster Chapel in Bellevue, Bill’s longtime church home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hood Canal Environmental Council, an organization dedicated to protecting the Hood Canal.