Biele, Edward Casper, CAPT

Edward Caspar Biele

Edward Caspar, age 95 died peacefully on November 3, 2012 following a very brief illness. Edward, a long time Seattle resident, was born on June 29, 1917 in Hackensack, NJ and grew up in Yonkers, NY. He attended Columbia College on a scholarship and later Columbia Law School. He enlisted in the naval officer program shortly after Pearl Harbor during his second year of law school. Edward often talked about his experiences in World War II as the most formative of his life - particularly his service as Lieutenant Commander of the submarine USS Sea Devil on its four patrols in the Pacific during 1944 and 1945.

Edward returned to New York after the war to finish school and begin practicing law. During this time, he met Mary Elizabeth Haskell of Wenatchee, WA who in 1946 became his soul mate for 61 years. In 1950, Edward and Mary relocated to Seattle for a better quality of life and as an ideal location to practice in Edward's chosen specialty, maritime law. Edward joined law firm Bogle & Gates where he practiced and was senior partner in its Admiralty Law Practice Group until retirement in 1982. Edward was an active member in the Maritime Law Association and served for many years on its Executive Committee. Edward had a second career as an apple farmer, which began in the mid 1970's when his son John and he partnered to acquire and operate orchards near Oroville, WA.

Edward was voted "Most Resourceful" by his high school graduating class. That tribute portended the trajectory of his life. He loved to travel and to explore new cultures. He embraced new ideas and experiences. Similarly, he challenged everyone around him including his children and grandchildren to think independently and find their own paths. Edward was an avid historian and voracious reader. He had a keen intellect and encyclopedic knowledge of almost any topic.

Edward was a benevolent patriarch whose love of his wife, children, grandchildren and great -grandchildren was of paramount importance. He is survived by his three children, John Edward Biele of Oroville, Alexander Thomson Biele of Dallas and Mary Elizabeth (Polly) Lenssen of Seattle, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren. The family plans a private memorial service. The family requests remembrances be made to: Children's Hospital Foundation, PO Box 50020, Seattle, WA, 98145 for use by Clinical Nutrition in research or a charity of choice.