Octave William Liesse; 50-Year County Resident

Ventura resident Octave William “O.W.” Liesse, a 50-year resident of the county, died Monday at a Camarillo hospital. He was 83.

Liesse was born Oct. 20, 1916, in Loving, N.M. He was a World War II veteran who served with the Seabees. He was a founding member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oxnard who served on the building committee and was an elder.

Liesse was a longtime member of the Elks Lodge No. 1443 in Oxnard and a past member of the Channel Islands Lions Club.

He retired in 1979 following a long career with the U.S. Department of Defense. He worked as a manager of the Navy’s exchange on Terminal Island and later as executive director of exchanges in Port Hueneme, Point Mugu and China Lake.

In his free time, Liesse was an avid fisherman and enjoyed camping and hiking with his family in the Sierra Nevada.

Liesse is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dottie Liesse of Ventura; a son, James Liesse of Kauai, Hawaii; a daughter, Kaye Esse of Ventura; three grandsons, one granddaughter and one great-grandson. A son, Ron Liesse, died in 1974.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura. Dr. Marilyn Montague and a representative of the Oxnard Elks Lodge No. 1443 will officiate.

The family suggests contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Assn. of Ventura County in Oxnard or Oxnard Elks Lodge No. 1443.

Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura is handling all of the arrangements.