Richard C. Kalma passed away on January 4, 2012 at home with his family by his side. He was born on October 3, 1926 in Shacktown Wenatchee, WA to Casey and Mary (Stumpf) Kalma.

Dick was a prominent Marysville pioneer attending school from kindergarten to high school when he joined the Navy at 17. He contracted scarlett fever while at boot camp in Farrogot, ID and received a medical disability discharge. He later received his GED and a two-year Associate’s Degree in Accounting at Everett Community College.

Dick met Dorothy Lambert in 1948 while working for the State Patrol in Wenatchee and they were married on February 19, 1949. After living in Spokane, WA for a short while where Dick worked for a tires, batteries and accessories company they moved to Marysville where they raised and distributed turkeys for many years. He also worked in logging, land development and real estate but he liked working for himself the best and did well at it. Dick was an amateur boxer, and avid fisherman and hunter, he trained and rode horses and had a great love for the outdoors.

In his quiet time he loved to strum the guitar and play his harmonica. Dick was a unique man, self-made, self-taught and loved living on the edge. He played practical jokes and teased with the best of them.

He had many nicknames: Coach, Boss, The Cowboy, Curmudgeon, Trouble, Colorful Character and lived up to each one of the names. He was also a quiet man with a sense of humor.

He touched many lives and helped many people. Besides his children who adored him, he was instrumental in setting an example for his nephew, Mike Lambert.

He was a second father to his grandson, Mike Gstohl when Mike’s father passed away of cancer when Mike was five years old. We are sure Mike’s father and grandfather are fishing in the great beyond.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Casey and Mary Kalma; his brother, Don Kalma.

He leaves his loving wife of almost 63 years, Dorothy; son, Garry (Monica) Kalma; daughter, Cheryl (Fred) Amundson; brother, Charles (Marcella) Kalma; three grandchildren, Jamie (Scott) Horton, Jason Kalma, Michael Gstohl; step-grandchildren, Scott and Steve Amundson; five great-grandchildren, Taylor and Kamryn Horton, Landon, Ethan and Benjamin Amundson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dick was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Dorothy would like to thank three special angels God brought to her, Irm, Cindy and Pat for the countless hours of care and love they gave to Dick during his illness. Also to her family for their love and support, to the wonderful Hospice Organization and to his many friends at the YMCA that made his life so much fun and enjoyable this past year.

Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Marysville Baptist Church, 4011 81st Pl. NE., Marysville.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hospice, Children’s Hospital or Marysville Baptist Church.