Richard Proksch of Salem, Oregon collapsed and died while hiking with his son and grandsons at Silver Falls Park on July 27th, one day after his 66th birthday.
Dick was born in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, to parents Alvin and Joyce Proksch. He graduated from Onalaska High School in Onalaska, Wisc., then served in the US Air Force. He was a Weatherman stationed in Japan during the Vietnam War. After returning from Japan, he chose a college where he could ski. While attending Idaho State University, he met and later married his wife Debra. He graduated from Idaho State University School of Pharmacy, and then completed a Masters Residency program in Pharmacy Administration at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore.
He was an Assistant Director of Pharmacy at U of Md. hospital prior to moving to Salem, Oregon in 1984 where he was the Director of Pharmacy at Salem Hospital until his retirement in January 2012. After his retirement, he set goals to exercise, travel, and spend time with family and friends. He was delighted to keep his grandsons company before and after school, was a volunteer mentor at Wright Elementary for Isaac's math club, chaperoned both grandsons’ school field trips, and has been a little league baseball umpire for Sprague Little League for the past two years. Dick was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and was proud to be a share owner.
Dick spent his last months living his dream. He was loved by and will be sorely missed by his family, as well as his many coworkers, friends and neighbors.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind his wife Debra, daughter Jennifer Bare (Salem), son Jonathan (Hillsboro, Or), two terrific grandsons, Isaac and Joshua Bare, brother Arlyn (Mary) Thornton, Co; sister Debbie (Paul) Kaiser West Salem, WI; mother-in-law LaVerne Olson, Filer, ID; brother-in-law Ronald Olson (Alice) Grand Forks, ND; Harold (Heidi) Gooding, ID; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Thursday, August 1 from 6-9pm at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors. A Funeral Service will be held Friday, August 2 at 2pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ with a viewing one hour before services. To leave audio or online condolences please visit www.HED-FH.com.
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