One year ago today, I lost a special Friend when he went home to his Lord and Maker. Its been a tough year in loosing so many friend this past year, probably over 18 from our church, and just last week Frank Smith went home.
I first met Rick Klinge in the late 80's when he moved to East Wenatchee and worked for Douglas County PUD as a fish biologist. He lived just up the street from us, We attended same church together and our families quickly became close- even closer when his son and my daughter were married, 17 years ago. We made numerous trips to Moscow to see our children in college and to welcome our first grandchild. We had Bible Studies in his home, and he served on our church board. He was not only a special friend to me, he was a super grandpa and great father to his two boys. He was only sixty two years old and had been healthy his entire life. He was a long distance runner and enjoyed climbing many of the mountains in Washington State. Jan and I climbed Mt Adams with him. In 2007 he began to slow down. It took eight months to receive a correct diagnosis that he had AL Amyloidosis, a bone marrow disease. Because his heart was so compromised, he received a heart transplant in Sep 2009. He also had two stem cell transplants (Feb 2010 and Dec 2011). He was on hospice for 10 months and these last few months he kept so busy researching his genealogy, painting, his blog, ( http://tinmanofwenatchee.blogspot.com/) and just few days before he passed, I spent over an hour visiting with him. I know I will see him again in heaven but that does not take the pain away. He was so positive and encouraging, most of all he knew Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and I believe he had too much to gain to loose right now because of his trust in Jesus Christ. I hope all my friends can say they are ready to meet Jesus and "they have too much to gain to loose"...
I first met Rick Klinge in the late 80's when he moved to East Wenatchee and worked for Douglas County PUD as a fish biologist. He lived just up the street from us, We attended same church together and our families quickly became close- even closer when his son and my daughter were married, 17 years ago. We made numerous trips to Moscow to see our children in college and to welcome our first grandchild. We had Bible Studies in his home, and he served on our church board. He was not only a special friend to me, he was a super grandpa and great father to his two boys. He was only sixty two years old and had been healthy his entire life. He was a long distance runner and enjoyed climbing many of the mountains in Washington State. Jan and I climbed Mt Adams with him. In 2007 he began to slow down. It took eight months to receive a correct diagnosis that he had AL Amyloidosis, a bone marrow disease. Because his heart was so compromised, he received a heart transplant in Sep 2009. He also had two stem cell transplants (Feb 2010 and Dec 2011). He was on hospice for 10 months and these last few months he kept so busy researching his genealogy, painting, his blog, ( http://tinmanofwenatchee.blogspot.com/) and just few days before he passed, I spent over an hour visiting with him. I know I will see him again in heaven but that does not take the pain away. He was so positive and encouraging, most of all he knew Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and I believe he had too much to gain to loose right now because of his trust in Jesus Christ. I hope all my friends can say they are ready to meet Jesus and "they have too much to gain to loose"...
Richard William “Rick” Klinge
September 6, 1951 ~ March 2, 2014
Richard William “Rick” Klinge, age 62, died on March 2, 2014, in Wenatchee, WA. He was born to Richard and Cecile Klinge on September 6, 1951, in Seattle, WA. Rick grew up in Seattle, attending Shorecrest High School and the University of Washington, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Fisheries in 1974. In 1973, he married his first wife, Susan Gill. He moved to Forks, WA in 1975, to work as a Fisheries Biologist to reduce logging impacts on salmon streams for the Hoh, Quinault and Makah tribes until 1990. While in Forks, both of his sons, Derek and David, were born, In 1982, he took a side track in profession and attended the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO, where he received a Masters in Biblical Literature in 1984. He was ordained with the Assemblies of God in 1986, and pastored for three years at Clallam Bay Assembly of God in Sekiu, WA. In 1990, he took a position at Douglas County PUD as a Fisheries Biologist, where he worked until May 2009. While there, he oversaw fish passage at Wells Dam and provided guidance to the District on fisheries issues of the Columbia River. He was proud to help establish a salmon protection program for Okanogan sockeye in British Columbia with the Canadian fisheries parties. In 2004, he married Rosaline Dahlin. Rick always said that Rose taught him a lot about life and family. Rosaline and Rick compressed a lot of living in their short time together. In 2008, Rick began to experience troubles with his heart. He was diagnosed with a bone marrow disorder, AL Amyloidosis in February 2009, that eventually took his life. The joy of Rick’s life was his grandkids. Rick also enjoyed art, classical music and the outdoors. He completed 12 marathons and climbed several of Washington’s volcanic mountains.
Rick is survived by his wife, Rosaline; two sons, Derek (Dawn) of Kirkland, WA, and David of Seattle, WA; step-son, Nicholas Dahlin of Albuquerque, MN; and two step-daughters, Andrea (Michael) Jones of Puyallup, WA, and Lanette (Marshall) Sanders of Puyallup, WA; nine grandchildren; a brother, Joseph of Las Vegas, NV; and a sister, Helen (Dave) Mandley of Seattle, WA.
“Written by Rick.”
September 6, 1951 ~ March 2, 2014
Richard William “Rick” Klinge, age 62, died on March 2, 2014, in Wenatchee, WA. He was born to Richard and Cecile Klinge on September 6, 1951, in Seattle, WA. Rick grew up in Seattle, attending Shorecrest High School and the University of Washington, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Fisheries in 1974. In 1973, he married his first wife, Susan Gill. He moved to Forks, WA in 1975, to work as a Fisheries Biologist to reduce logging impacts on salmon streams for the Hoh, Quinault and Makah tribes until 1990. While in Forks, both of his sons, Derek and David, were born, In 1982, he took a side track in profession and attended the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO, where he received a Masters in Biblical Literature in 1984. He was ordained with the Assemblies of God in 1986, and pastored for three years at Clallam Bay Assembly of God in Sekiu, WA. In 1990, he took a position at Douglas County PUD as a Fisheries Biologist, where he worked until May 2009. While there, he oversaw fish passage at Wells Dam and provided guidance to the District on fisheries issues of the Columbia River. He was proud to help establish a salmon protection program for Okanogan sockeye in British Columbia with the Canadian fisheries parties. In 2004, he married Rosaline Dahlin. Rick always said that Rose taught him a lot about life and family. Rosaline and Rick compressed a lot of living in their short time together. In 2008, Rick began to experience troubles with his heart. He was diagnosed with a bone marrow disorder, AL Amyloidosis in February 2009, that eventually took his life. The joy of Rick’s life was his grandkids. Rick also enjoyed art, classical music and the outdoors. He completed 12 marathons and climbed several of Washington’s volcanic mountains.
Rick is survived by his wife, Rosaline; two sons, Derek (Dawn) of Kirkland, WA, and David of Seattle, WA; step-son, Nicholas Dahlin of Albuquerque, MN; and two step-daughters, Andrea (Michael) Jones of Puyallup, WA, and Lanette (Marshall) Sanders of Puyallup, WA; nine grandchildren; a brother, Joseph of Las Vegas, NV; and a sister, Helen (Dave) Mandley of Seattle, WA.
“Written by Rick.”
Great tribute Dennis! Wish I had got to meet Rich! Sounds like a great guy!
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