William Richard Ramsdell

April 26, 1957 - December 31, 2012

William (Bill) Richard Ramsdell of Corvallis, OR, passed away Dec. 31, 2012. He was born at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, WI, April 26, 1957. Bill was raised in Janesville, and graduated from Craig High School in 1976. He received a geography and resource management degree from Central Washington University. Bill worked at Trek Bicycle Company in Waterloo, Wis., as well as Basics Natural Foods in Janesville. Bill was employed at the Ellensburg Recycling Center until completion of his degree, when he was named the recycling coordinator for Kittitas County, Wash. He was also active in recycling and compost education in the Ellensburg area. Bill was an attendant to individuals with cognitive disabilities in Ellensburg and Corvallis. Bill was a freelance videographer and the owner of a video production company, Worldview Productions, which specialized in end of life directive videos. Bill had gained skill in metalworking and created welded and fabricated metal artwork. He had a passion for bread making, Dutch oven cooking and home brewing and was an active member of Heart of the Valley Homebrew Club and the Corvallis Dutch Oven Cookers. Bill was an accomplished toastmaster and emcee and the coordinator of an entertainment stage at the Da Vinci Days celebration in Corvallis. He was an active volunteer at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Corvallis. Bill inherited a love of water from his father that manifested in his assembling an impressive armada of rafts, canoes, and kayaks, which he would employ to organize group water outings and events. Bill was a proud and loving father whose face would brighten when discussing or in the presence of his son, Michael. Bill desired deep connections with his friends and family and strove towards it openly. Bill's spirit is as colorful and unique as it is generous and loving. His absence leaves a vacuum in the hearts of his family and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Marjorie June (Campbell) Ramsdell and his father Richard Vernon Ramsdell of Janesville, WI. He is survived by his son, Michael Anderson of Tacoma, WA; his siblings: Debra Ramsdell (Michael Lang) of Bozeman, MT, James Ramsdell of Bayfield, WI, Robert (Helene) Ramsdell of Janesville, Tammy (Gene) Boersma of Madison, WI, Kathleen (Dan) Mandelas of Ellensburg, WA, and John (Helen) Ramsdell of Janesville; beloved nieces and nephews: Phoenix and Ben Ramsdell, Lexy and Dalton Mandelas, Kristy Martinez, Logan and Lauren Ramsdell; stepmother, Mary Baban-Ramsdell; and his beloved dogs, Marley and Liam. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at the SCHNEIDER APFEL SCHNEIDER & SCHNEIDER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, Janesville, WI. Friends may visit with family on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, from 3 until 5 p.m. at the FUNERAL HOME.