Michael James Aszman, loved golfing, fishing
Michael “Mike” James Aszman of Rehoboth Beach passed unexpectedly at Beebe Healthcare Saturday, March 30, 2024, at 2 a.m. He had been dealing with seemingly disconnected health issues for the past two and a half years and was diagnosed with Wegener's disease only four weeks ago.
Mike was born Sept. 22, 1954, on the 3275th USAF base in Fairfield, Calif., to the late Dorothy Greenway Aszman and Elmer James Aszman. He was of German descent on his father's side and Native American (Choctaw and Cherokee) on his mother's side. Mike grew up in a Chicago suburb until he moved to Morrison, Ill., where he finished his high school education. In high school, he played trombone in the band and jazz ensemble, football, and baseball.
Mike graduated from the University of Illinois in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He was hired by ExxonMobil (then simply Exxon) straight out of college and began working at the Baytown, Texas chemical plant near Houston, Texas.
It was in Houston in 1977 that he met his future wife and soulmate, Karen. They married in Houston in June 1979. During this time, Mike worked his way through the Exxon Corporation, choosing to stay in the Houston area because Karen had a career there. Eventually, they decided to have a family and their son, Matthew, was born in 1991. With that, Karen stayed home, and the family accepted a transfer to Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, in 1993.
This job opened up a world of travel to the young family, and they took full advantage of it, traveling the Middle East, Europe and Southeast Asia. They spent weekends in Al-Jubail with a large community of expats from around the world, camping miles out into the desert and participating in an international running club known as The Hash House Harriers (aka Hashers). During that time, they also became certified PADI scuba divers and took their boat into the Persian Gulf, scuba diving off distant islands in the Gulf and diving often while traveling to other countries on their vacations.
In 1994, they were transferred to Singapore. It was in Singapore that they met people who would become lifelong friends. They traveled extensively through Southeast Asia, relaxing and diving on the island of Bali, hiking in the jungles of Malaysia, and exploring Borneo. Singapore also afforded them the ability to travel to Australia, New Zealand, and Nepal.
They repatriated to the U.S. in 2000 and took up residence in Kingwood, Texas, just north of Houston. Mike was transferred to the Butyl division of ExxonMobil where he had responsibilities in Japan. He continued to travel extensively during this time and Karen joined him whenever possible. His job took him to Hawaii, Japan, China, Russia, Europe, and South Africa.
Mike and Karen retired to Rehoboth in 2015 and continued to travel, though not as extensively. A trip to Alaska and yearly trips to Napa Valley with ExxonMobil friends were the highlights of their early years of retirement. Mike also loved the water and would hop on his moped to go into Rehoboth. He loved his pontoon boat on the bay and surf-fishing with friends, but golf was his real passion. He spent a lot of time on the golf course and made many friends at Kings Creek Country Club.
Mike was the kind of guy who would do anything for anyone. Friends who needed something fixed around their house knew they could always count on the engineer to figure out how to repair it. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and could always find the best in people and the bright side of life. His family was the most important thing to him, with his friends coming in as a close second. His son, Matt, was his pride and joy, and the two had a close, loving relationship. From the day he and Karen met, there was no one else for either of them. It was instantaneous; their love has endured through triumphs and tragedies. She was his soulmate, and he was her rock.
Mike is survived by his wife, Karen; his son, Matt; his brother, Rick Aszman, his wife Melissa, and daughters Dorothy and Jennifer; brother, Jim Aszman, his wife Lori, and daughters Morgan and Rachel; sister, Carol, her husband Jay Ammons, and their daughters Layne and Hunter; brother-in-law, Gil Bernoski, his wife Yolanda and daughter Jessyca. In addition to his parents, Mike was predeceased by his father-in-law, Gilbert Joseph Bernoski Sr.; and mother-in-law, Margaret DiSaia Bernoski.
There will be a Celebration of Life at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 13, at Parsell Funeral Homes, Atkins-Lodge, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where family and friends may begin visiting at 2 p.m. Burial will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, send donations in memory of Mike to Brandywine Valley SPCA, 22918 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947, bvspca.org; or The Shepherd's Office, 408 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947, degives.org/orgs/Shepherds-office-inc, a 501c3 ministry feeding the homeless, the hungry and the lonely.
Visit Mike’s Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
