David Waldemar Besuden, 96, passed away peacefully at home in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 30, 2013 surrounded by family. David spent 81 blissful summers on Lake Manitou and the Island, as well as any other seasonal visits he could arrange; his annual autumn fishing trips with the “boys” and late spring trips to open the cottage. Shortly before Dad passed away he gathered his four children together to talk to us about his final wishes. He wished for us the same joy in gathering together at the lake as he always felt. He asked us to be sure to take care of our legacy of the cottage and property with the same love with which he left it to us. He wanted to be sure we understood the importance of being good stewards of the beautiful place with which we had been entrusted. It really came as no surprise to us that this was all he really wanted to talk about. We promised that we had every intention of making sure his legacy to us was cared for and protected. We also feel the love for our summer home, because the Manitoulin gets into your blood and becomes a part of you with its pristine beauty and warm, friendly people. Dad first came to the Manitoulin to fish and camp as a teenager in 1932 with his father, David Reif Besuden, his brother George and other friends. At first they would only spend a month of the summer in the Sandfield area on Manitoulin where they met Andy Watson and family who were to become the first of the many lifelong friends they made on the Island. Eventually, in 1952, Dad bought a tiny log cabin on the shores of Lake Manitou for his family and from then on the Manitoulin was the place we wanted to be in the summers. With loving care and craftsmanship, he turned the log cabin into a two-bedroom cottage, which is warm and welcoming and has been the site for many a rousing card or board game and the departure point for countless fishing trips and lake explorations. As the family grew sleeping cabins were added. He built the last one with his brother in the early 1990s to accommodate his grandchildren. An avid sportsman and boater, Dad was waterskiing on Lake Manitou into his 80th year, and right through this past summer he was out on the lake fishing for trout and bass. He loved to troll the shores and wonder at the natural beauty while sharing stories of earlier days. He was an expert with the filet knife and many nights we enjoyed a fish fry around the campfire with fresh catch of the day. Our Mother, Charlene, passed away in 2006, and Dad’s brother George and neighbor on the Manitoulin passed away in 2010, and after that the Island became even more important to Dad as it held the fondest memories of his beloved family. David was predeceased by the wife he adored for 66 years, Charlene, and his dear brother George. He leaves behind four devoted children and their spouses, Sue Nemenz (Ken) of Indian Hill, OH and Naples, FL, Dianne Hallberg of Highland Beach, FL, Debbie Geehring (Jim) of Wyoming, OH, and David Besuden (Michelle) of Loveland, OH. He will be deeply missed by his grandchildren Trey Hallberg (and fiancée Kelly Meyer), Jeffrey Hallberg (Diana), Christopher Geehring (Nicole), Logan, Alexandra and Nicolle Besuden; his great grandchildren Ricky, Ryan, Noah, and Charlie Hallberg, and Zaiden Geehring (due to come into the world September 9); his dedicated sister-in-law Connie Besuden, and loving nieces and nephews. To all of you who knew him we thank you for all you did to enrich his life. We know you will miss him just as we do. Submitted by his children, Debbie Geehring, Sue Nemenz, Dianne Hallberg and David L. Besuden.
