Brett Casteel (R. Brett Casteel), age 40, of Charlottesville, VA, died on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, after his seven year journey with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC).

Brett was born in Lima, OH, to Ronald George Casteel and Martha Ellen (Lewis) Casteel. At a young age of 16, Brett earned his Eagle Scout award. While at Grove City College, he met his soon to be wife of 16 years. In 1994 Brett completed his mechanical engineering degree at Penn State and began his life career with General Electric. On September 10, 1994, Brett married Lara Elizabeth Byers in Pittsburgh, PA.

During the first two years of their marriage, Brett and Lara lived in Milwaukee, WI, and Memphis, TN, while Brett completed his two year MMP training with GE. In 1996, Brett and Lara moved to Charlottesville where they developed a strong foundation of friends and a "Charlottesville Family". A year later while working at GE, Brett obtained his MBA from James Madison University.

During his career, Brett also received numerous GE achievement awards and earned the respect and love of many coworkers. On April 14, 2002, Brett and Lara introduced to the world their daughter, Kierstin Jane Casteel, who is the spittin' image of her father.

Brett was known for his love of baseball (Go O's!), college football (We Are Penn State!), gourmet cooking (a Bon Appetit Fan), spending time with Lara and Kierstin by the fish pond, helping friends with anything mechanical, being great at any trivia and most of all his great sense of humor.

Brett is survived by his wife, Lara Byers Casteel, daughter Kierstin Jane Casteel; parents Ronald George and Martha Ellen (Lewis) Casteel of Warren, PA; sister Christina Casteel O'Neill, husband Christopher and son Drew and daughter Samantha of Nashville, Tennessee; inlaws, R. Lee Byers and wife Sylvia Shuler Byers of East Stroudsburg, PA; brotherinlaw Tim Byers and wife Rita Wechter of Price, Utah; sisterinlaw Anne Marie (Byers) Coryell and husband Brett, sons Elijah and Zachery and daughter Amber of Henryville, PA; brotherinlaw Steve and wife Cherie Byers, son Caleb and daughter Grace of Del Ray, Fl. Brett is also survived by many extended family members including aunts, uncles, cousins, and his Charlottesville Family.

If you wish to make a donation in memory of Brett, please consider donations to ACC Research Foundation (www.accrf.org) or UVA's Camp Kesem (www.campkesem.org).