John Beisel

JOHN BEISELJohn Norman Beisel, 69, entered the presence of the Lord January 1, 2010, after a massive stroke while waiting for a heart and kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, FL.He was born March 27, 1940, in Sea Island, GA, the son of Norman Milford and Alice Loper Beisel. He was a 1958 graduate of Glynn Academy, served in the Georgia National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve, and earned a BBA in Real Estate and Finance from Georgia State University.He began a career in commercial real estate development with F.W. Woolworth Company and J. C. Penney Company in Atlanta, GA. He became Vice President and Director of Shopping Center Development for Aronov Realty Company in Montgomery, AL, developing regional shopping malls and strip shopping centers throughout the southeast. In 1984 he formed his own company and continued developing, leasing and managing shopping centers in Georgia and Alabama as Beisel Properties, Inc. He was an active member of International Council of Shopping Centers.He loved the outdoors, his work, his family, his church and the Lord. Retirement brought him home to St. Simons Island in 1999 where he was a faithful member of St. Simons United Methodist Church and the Beacon Sunday School Class.Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Dianne Swygert Beisel, son John Beisel, Jr. and wife Melinda of Suwanee, GA, son Andy Beisel and wife Sandra of Auburn, AL, and daughter Karla Gushue and husband Fred of Boca Raton, FL; six grandchildren, Brock Beisel, Alex and Drew Beisel, and Taylor, Jessie and Joey Gushue. Survivors also include his mother Alice Beisel of St. Simons Island, sister Joann Herrin and husband Frank of Brunswick, GA, sister Alice Sumner of St. Simons Island, brother James Beisel and wife Linda of Holaday, Utah, sister-in-law Jackie Beisel of Loxley, AL, and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Norman Beisel and brother Paul Beisel.A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, January 9, at St. Simons United Methodist Church with the Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Family visitation will be held Friday evening, January 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Edo Miller & Sons Funeral Home.In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Simons United Methodist Church.Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com