In Loving Memory of Bob Strick

JAMES ROBERT STRICK, best known as BOB STRICK, resident of Kettle Falls, WA, died peacefully January 19, 2012 in Spokane, WA of complications from previously undiagnosed Pancreatic Cancer and Cirrhosis. He was 72 years old. Strick was born June 1, 1939 in Missoula, MT to Marie and James Strick, he was raised in Spokane, WA.

A friendly socializer and pursuer of pleasure, Bob Strick’s life path was winding.  He began his career in finance, and in 1965 was appointed Manager at Federal Finance Co. in Spokane.  Around 1970 he moved to Bellevue, WA and became a Loan Officer at Bank of the West and then Branch Manager at Bank of the West’s Kent branch.  

In 1973, Strick gave up banking for real estate, and later became a Real Estate Broker and started his own business, J. Robert Strick Real Estate, in Bellevue.  In the early 1980s, he moved to eastern Washington, and started a company, Alaska Log Homes & Lodges, that consisted of a logging mill that manufactured kits to build contemporary log homes, and installed homes nationally and in Japan. Later, Strick started Kettle River Pine, Inc. which did business in lumber cutting & planing at his mill in Kettle Falls.

 Wauconda property, 2007. Photo by Dana Hunting

 Bob was married twice, first to Margaret Nelson, 1959-1966, with whom he had three children: Patricia, Jennifer and Sean. He was then married to Miriam Vicary, 1971-1980, with whom he had two more children, Heather and Dana.


Amidst his career and family pursuits, Bob also served in the National Guard, acquired his pilot’s license, occasionally raised farm animals, purchased acres of rolling hills in Wauconda, WA and later, retired to his dream property in Kettle Falls, WA, which included an active railroad track. 

Kettle Falls property, 2007. Photo by Dana Hunting

  

Bob Strick was preceded in death by his parents Marie and James Strick of Spokane Valley WA; and brother, Stanley Strick of Everett, WA. He is survived by his sisters Shirley Thierry of AZ and Barbara Korling of Spokane WA; His good friend and significant other, Vicki Tomsha of Deer Park WA; His five children: Patricia Strick Swing Uri of Anchorage, AK; Jennfer Strick Swing Falck of Bergen, Norway; Sean Strick Swing of Pasco WA; Heather Strick van Breda of Belleuve WA; and Dana Strick Hunting of Seattle WA; Nine grandchildren: MeiLing Uri, Mia Bjørnestad, Madeleine Bjørnestad, Emma, Shawna, Brandi, Jude, Noah and Anita; and one great grandson, Whitney.

At Heather and Peter's wedding, 1999. Photo by Carrol Harrold.

L-R: Dana, Trish, Bob, Heather, Peter, MeiLing.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR BOB STRICK is being planned for Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Bellevue Foursquare Church in Bellevue, WA. The family is working to turn the Facebook page for Bob Strick into a memorial site where you may post memories and condolences, and watch for news about the memorial service.