Robert Major Hysell

The youngest of three siblings, Bob Hysell was born in Minneapolis, MN in 1932 to Leslie and Mildred Hysell. He was raised in the small towns of Farmington, Browerville and Long Prairie, MN.

After two years of college, he served four years in the US Navy Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller in Pensacola, FL. It was during this time that he married his high school sweetheart, Anne, and their daughter Catherine was born. After his naval career, he earned his BA and BArch from the University of Minnesota and a Masters in Architecture from Harvard.

His career as an architect was multifaceted. As an Assistant Professor he taught design to UofM architecture students and was a partner in the design firm ZHHD in Minneapolis. From 1977 to 1980 he was Project Director for the Consortium HOK+4 in the building of King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Back in the US Bob held positions in marketing and development in Texas, Arizona and California. After seven years with Bechtel Corporation, three of which were in Hong Kong, Bob retired in 1998.

Retirement brought the couple to Sonoma, CA with involvement in the community for eight years. In 2006, they moved along with their daughter to Walla Walla, WA where Bob designed and built their home on Graybill Pond. He volunteered his time to the Downtown Foundation, Whitman College Friendship Family and Whitman College Life Cycle Committee.

Music was always a part of Bob's life starting at age three when he won 1st prize singing "When I Grow Too Old To Dream." He played the baritone horn and the Boy Scout bugle from his Eagle Scout days his entire life and always sang with gusto. Bob golfed, cheered the Sea Hawks, made outlandish winning decisions in card games, and made a commendable Caesar Salad.

The Walla Walla Veterans Home was Bob's home for the last year of his life and it was a creative one. He wrote letters to the editor at the UB, letters to Senator Patty Murray and short short stories with characters such as newlyweds Ben and Eileen Dover, helicopter pilot Hap Hazard and mechanic Allen Wrench. He loved to laugh and along with Anne made lifelong friendships with people all around the world.

Bob is survived by his wife Anne and daughter Catherine, and many nieces and nephews who speak of Bob as their favorite uncle. He was preceded in death by his parents Les and Mildred Hysell and his two sisters Joyce Stier and Maylon Curry.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jon Gardner and to the Walla Walla Veterans Home staff who gave Bob a loving caring home away from home. A memorial service and flag presentation were held at the VA the day of Bob's death. A family celebration of life will take place at a future date.