Richard 'Dick' Gasseling Obituary (1940

On August 11, 2019, we lost our beloved dad and our mom lost her best friend. Dick was born to William J. Gasseling and Lorraine Brulotte Gasseling on September 1, 1940 in Yakima, WA. He was the eldest of eight children. Dick graduated from Marquette High School in 1958 and entered the Army National Guard on August 24, 1959. He served six years and earned the rank of Sargeant. When he was in high school at the tender age of 16, he met Claudia Jamison and they were together from then on. They married on October 7, 1961. In 1962 they welcomed their first child Debbie. Jon followed in 1965 and Scott in 1969. Dick was born into a hop raising family, yet that wasnt his true calling. His father gave him his first herd of cattle and Dad and Mom began their life as cattle ranchers. Dad could sit on a horse or in his pickup and look over his cows for hours. He understood his cows better than anything. Dick and Claudia raised their kids on their ranch in Wapato, surrounded by cows, fine horses, and numerous cattle dogs. His kids and many talented cowboys were always on hand for cattle drives and branding sessions. Over the years he and Mom became friends with many, many wonderful folks. Dad, at the end, stated that he was looking forward to seeing many of his old friends who had passed before him to "do some catching up". When Dick was 30 years old the rodeo bug struck. He started out as a calf roper and moved on to team roping as a heeler. When his son, Jon, was old enough to rope, Dad became the header and Jon became his number one partner as the heeler. Dick built his own arena by the house where he and Jon spent much time practicing. The rest of us were the "ground" crew. Dad hosted many team roping events and practices that were attended by cowboys and cowgirls far and wide. As a family, many summers found us at numerous rodeos and team roping events. Another love of Dicks was hunting and fishing with family and friends. There were many long pack trips into the mountains with his best friend Dick Brandt, his brothers, cousins and sons during elk season and to look for a good lake to fish in. The endless stories of these adventures are priceless and treasured. Dick was preceded in death by his father and mother, numerous aunts and uncles and his brother in law Red Walden. He is survived by his wife and best friend of 57 years, Claudia, daughter Debbie (Bob) Thomas of Wapato, sons Jon (Patty) Gasseling of Wapato, and Scott Gasseling (Toby Shadwick) of Wapato; brothers and sisters: Jeanne Marie Walden, Marylou (Larry) Hobbs, Bob (Maryjane) Gasseling, Dennis (Claudia) Gasseling, Linda (Don) Schlenker, Gary (Janean) Gasseling, Ernie (Kay) Gasseling, brother and sister in law Don and Joan Jamison, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. At Dicks request no services will be held, but a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.