Brian John Van Tassel

SFC (Ret) Brian John Van Tassel 64, passed away on August 18, 2021 surround by his loving and caring family.

The service will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery at 5015 Apalachee pkwy, on August 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM. Faith Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.(www.faithfuneralhome.com or 850.539.4300) COVID-19 protocol is enforced, casual attire requested.

B.J. was born June 17, 1957 1957 in fort Manmoth, New Jersey to Rex and Ruth Van Tassel , the youngest of three siblings. B.J. lived overseas with his family as a child and returned to the U.S. to live in Sarasota, Florida where he graduated from Riverview Highschool, attended FSU and UF, before deciding to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined the Army in 1978. After basic training in tanks he deployed to Manheim, Germany B Company 2/32 Armor. Returning to the states in 1981, he met and married the love of his life and had 40 wonderful years together. When he deployed to Germany 1981-1985, B. J. became a father to Brian Uriah and Christina Ruth Van Tassel while stationed at Bad Kissingen, Germany, with the 2/11 ACR H Company Daily Barracks. He spent 20 years as a soldier doing what he loved in  the Armored Calvary Regiment reaching the level of Brigade Master Gunner and retiring to Havana, Florida in 1998 where he worked for the State of Florida until his death.

B.J. is survived by his wife Mary, son Brian U. Van Tassel ( Christina J.), daugther Christina R. (Brantly), three grandchildren, sister Shirley Campbell (Bob), brother Bruce ( Alina), several nephews, great nephews and great nieces.

B. J. wrote this about himself “ So , about me. What do I do? I build stuff. Big heavy things of iron and steel. Trailers straightened and fixed a grapple bucket, put hydraulics together for grapple, made an adapter so the tractor can use skid steer attachments; made a hay spear/boom pole skid steer attachment. Trailer hitches, pintle hitches. Made adapter trailer out of an M105 1960’s Marine trailer. Made adapter to put a tiller on my tractor. That’s what I do.”

B.J. was a great friend to many who truly knew him and lived his life to the fullest always busy doing something or helping someone. We cannot truly portray his life in this short obituary but if you knew him and was his friend, then you knew who he was, not just what he did.

He will forever in our hearts and missed greatly.

In lieu of flowers B.J. requested donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project at www.woundedwarriorsproject.org Thank you to our service men and woman for their dedication and service to our great country.

A graveside funeral service will held Tuesday, August 24, 2021 @ 11am

at the Tallahassee National Cemetery with Military Honors