Former Bainbridge Island resident George Victor Nesheim, 80, of Richland, died Nov. 12 from complications following a heart attack.

He was born in Decorah, Iowa, the second of three children to Victor and Sarah (Cummings) Nesheim. The family moved to Jefferson, Iowa, where he grew up and graduated from high school in 1943.

He joined the Navy and graduated from Midshipmen’s School, Northwestern University, as an ensign in 1944, and served aboard the USS West Virginia.

Following the war, he attended the University of Iowa and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1948.

He met his wife, Joanna, while at the university. They were married in 1950 and recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.

After 12 years in business in Iowa and Colorado, he enrolled in the School of Optometry, Pacific University, in Forest Grove, Ore., and graduated as a doctor of optometry in 1964.

His optometry career began in The Dalles, Oregon, followed by a move in 1968 to Bainbridge Island, where he opened a private practice and later opened an additional office in Kingston.

His retirement in 1996 gave him the time to participate in Volunteer Optometry Service to Humanity, whose members travel to Third World countries to provide eye care and glasses to those in need. He often participated in two trips annually, a majority of them to Central and South America which fueled his desire to converse with patients in their language.

He enrolled in Spanish classes through the local recreation department.

In addition to his daily language lessons, he resurrected his interest in riding a bicycle, which led to participation in an annual bicycle ride across the state of Iowa. At the age of 76 and again at 78, he led “Team George” on the seven-day, 450-mile, ride accompanied by one of his daughters and a grandson.

He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and served in many capacities on both the local and diocesan levels.

He is survived by his wife and their six children: Kristine Powell (Bill) of Richland; Elizabeth Simson (Larry) and Leslie Noborikawa (Ron) of Bonney Lake; Marta Thackeray (Jim) of McCall, Idaho; David Nesheim (Bonnie) of Kodiak, Alaska; and Nancy Nesheim of Seattle; 11 grandchildren, Daniel, Brian, and Kaitlin Powell; Tyler and Justin Simson; Megan and Ryan Noborikawa; Samuel and Britta Thackeray; Jordan and Olivia Nesheim; and his two sisters, Frances Markham (John) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ruth Smith of Harlingen, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Glenn Smith.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Richland. Interment will be with his parents in Poulsbo.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to School of Optometry, Scholarship Fund, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, or to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, for Iglesia Episcopal de Nuestro Salvador, 1322 Kimball, Richland, WA 99354.