Obituary: Strick, James Robert

STRICK, James Robert

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.

He was born in 1939 in Missoula, MT to Marie and James Strick, and 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 started his own business, J. Robert Strick Real Estate, as a Real Estate Broker in Bellevue.

In the early 1980s, he moved to eastern Washington, and started a company, Alaska Log Homes & Lodges, that manufactured kits to build contemporary log homes, selling kits to be installed nationally and in Japan.

Later, Strick started Kettle River Pine, Inc. which did business in lumber cutting and planing at his mill in Kettle Falls.
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, which included an active railroad track.
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 and Barbara Korling; His significant other, Vicki Tomsha; Five children: Patricia Uri of Anchorage, AK; Jennfer Falck of Bergen, Norway; Sean Swing of Pasco WA; Heather van Breda of Belleuve WA; and Dana Hunting of Seattle WA; nine grandchildren and one great grandson.
A memorial service for Bob Strick is being planned for Saturday, June 2, 2012 at Bellevue Foursquare Church in Bellevue, WA.

A memorial site has been set up at http://bobstrick.blogspot.com, where friends and family may post memories and condolences, and watch for details about the memorial service.