Read Richard "Dick" Alan Rothlisberger's Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

Richard "Dick" Alan Rothlisberger

Maple Valley, WA

January 19, 1946 - April 3, 2021

Jan 19, 1946 - Apr 3, 2021

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Richard Alan “Dick” Rothlisberger made his eagerly anticipated trip to heaven to be with his Savior on April 3rd, 2021. He was surrounded by family and friends.

Dick was born January 19, 1946 in Bismarck, North Dakota. As the oldest of six brothers, he briefly lived in several towns in Washington, North Dakota and Minnesota before his parents Willard and Virginia settled in the small mining town of Babbitt, Minnesota.

Dick graduated from Babbitt High School, where he still held competitive swimming records until just recently, and was the first swimmer to ever qualify for the state meet from his home town. Following high school, Dick immediately entered the Navy, and completed two tours in Vietnam. While stationed at Whidbey Island in Washington, he met and married the love of his life, Judy Shearer.

After finishing his stint in the Navy, Dick graduated from the University of Washington and began his teaching career. He loved teaching science and coaching wrestling and track, but Dick would readily admit that his favorite aspect of his career was having July and August to get his fill of nature and explore the Cascade Mountains and Northwest waterways with his family and friends.

Dick and Judy raised sons Marty and Travis in Maple Valley, Washington while he taught at Tahoma Junior High School. After 29 years of teaching, Dick began his second and favorite career as a chaplain at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, WA, where he ministered to prison inmates all the way up to his time of death.

Dick’s weak physical heart was a stark contrast to his strong heart for the spiritual welfare of others. He will be remembered for his passion for helping everyone he met to know Jesus, his love of fishing, hiking and the outdoors, spontaneous jokes and impressions, massive campfires, and wanting to spend as much time as possible with his family.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents Willard and Virginia, and younger siblings Tom and Lynn. He is survived by wife Judy, brothers Gene, Lenny and Brian; sons and daughters-in-law Marty and Christie and Travis and Kim; grandchildren Sierra, Elise, Caelan, Jakob and Lukas, and a multitude of “spiritual children.”

A celebration of life will be held on May 1st at 2pm at Valley View Christian Church in Kent, Washington.

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