Dr. Walter Karl Asbeck, 103, passed away September 11, 2018. Preceded in death by his dear wife, Doris Leila (Galbraith) Asbeck, to whom he was married for 64 years. Also preceded in death by his parents Walter and Hulda (Robazek) Asbeck, siblings Elinor (Erich) Lange and Hans (Marge) Asbeck and niece Suzie Salzer. Beloved father of Eric Asbeck, Ric (Kate) Asbeck and Carol (Brian) Roberts. Loving grandfather to George Asbeck, Sam Asbeck, Susie Roberts and Sheila Roberts and uncle to Peter (Marcia) Asbeck, John Asbeck and Debbie Asbeck.

Visitation Thursday 5PM – 8PM at Burr Funeral Home, 116 South Street, Chardon, OH 44024. Visitation on Friday at 10 AM, followed by a funeral service at 11AM at Parkside Church, 7100 Pettibone Road, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Case Western Reserve School of Engineering or The Cleveland Orchestra.

Walter was born in Hagen, Germany during World War I and immigrated with his family to the United States at the age of eight. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, graduated from Lakewood High School, and earned his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology. He accepted a full-time scholarship to the Technische Hochschuler of Berlin where he earned his Doctorate in Chemical Engineering.

Prior to beginning his doctorate, he spent a year traveling the world with a friend, arriving in Berlin in 1939 just before World War II began. He was detained in Germany after the U.S. entered the war in 1941. Although he could move about Berlin freely, he was required to check in with the authorities regularly for the duration of the war and was told he would be shot if he left the city. He fled Berlin and was captured by the Allied forces at the end of the war in 1945.

After the war, he moved to Chicago, Illinois to work for Sherwin Williams, where he met and married Doris Galbraith in 1950. They moved to Charleston, West Virginia in 1954 for Walt to work for Union Carbide. He and Doris lived in Charleston for 20 years and raised their three children there.

Walt was the Associate Director of Research and Development at Union Carbide. He published groundbreaking research regarding latex paints and holds several patents on viscosity. He retired from Union Carbide in 1974.

Walter also invented the Amphibious Travel Craft, a luxury recreational vehicle that can be driven like a motor home and can also navigate like a cabin cruiser down lakes and rivers. He holds several amphibious vehicle patents.

Walter and Doris moved to Westlake, Ohio and Walter became the U.S. sales representative for Nutap, a German company. He also taught classes in Chemical Engineering at Case and Kent State. He retired from Nutap at age 79 in 1994.

In 2000, Walter and Doris moved to Richmond Heights and later to Munson Township where they were lovingly cared for by daughter Carol and her family.

He has published two books about his remarkable life, My First Adventures and Escape from Berlin, both available on Amazon.

Throughout his life, Walter loved his family and enjoyed travel, dancing and boating. He and Doris enjoyed entertaining and always opened their home to friends and family.