CHARLES EDWARD BESAW

Charles Edward Besaw, DDS, of Bay City, passed away Jan. 26, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on Jan. 14, 1942 to the late Edward Leo and Florence Grace (Polent) Besaw in Detroit, Michigan. The young family soon moved back to their hometown of Alpena. Charlie graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1960 and attended Alpena Community College before transferring to the University of Michigan where he earned his undergraduate degree and then his DDS degree in 1968. After graduation, he served his country as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, based in San Diego, California. After his discharge, he moved to Bay City where he worked with Dr. Cliff Mohnke, and then opened his own dental practice. He married Teala Renee Neering on Oct. 6, 1972 and in 1975, he moved his practice to Essexville where they raised their children and resided for the next 30 years before moving to Bay City. Charlie was a past president of the Bay County Dental Society and the Saginaw Valley Dental Society. After retirement in 2015, he found that he missed working at his profession and went to work at a local office part-time and then for two years at a nonprofit dental clinic in Northern Michigan until health problems finally forced him to retire a second time. He was disappointed that his goal of practicing dentistry for 50 years was just a little short. He was a member of the Bay Area Family YMCA for 50 years where he played paddleball up until this past fall. Charlie enjoyed the outdoors; he played golf, liked water and snow skiing, boating and hunting. He was a member of the 11/40 Hunting Club in Spratt, Michigan. An avid sports fan, he liked following his favorite team especially U of M football and basketball. He enjoyed cooking and made sure everyone was always well fed. Most of all, he loved to spend time with family and friends. Charlie and Renee’s second home for 40 years was at Burt Lake in Northern Michigan where so many great memories were made. They both also liked to travel and felt very fortunate to have been able to experience some of the wonders this world has to offer. Charlie had a great sense of humor, was beloved by many, and will be missed dearly by all who remember him.