More detail on this person: In Memory of Robert Marvin Erickson November 16, 1946 - July 17, 2012 Obituary ROBERT M. ERICKSON, JR. - a.k.a. "Rick" and known affectionately by his US Army Apache troop buddies as "Swede." Rick was born November 16, 1946 in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in Seattle attending Maple Leaf Grade School, Jane Adams Jr. High and Ingram High School. He went on to attend the University of Washington for one year before joining the US Army in 1967 and proudly serving his country as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Because of his service he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. He loved to fly, he loved to travel, and he loved sports and played football from the "Pee Wee" League, Little League and all the way through High School. After his time in service to our country his career took him to Alaska and many years with Teamsters Local 959 as union negotiator. Then he worked a stint as a "Deputy Director of the Department of Labor" for the state of Alaska before retiring and returning to Seattle in the mid 1990's. Still "too young" to do nothing, he worked at John L. Scott Real Estate and finally with the IRS where he retired for the second time in 2009 to go traveling to Europe. After returning from travel (for health reasons) he moved to Whidbey Island where he lived until his passing July 17, 2012 from pancreatic cancer. He is and will continue to be missed by so many whose lives he touched with his great humor, love of history, football, and lately FCB (Football Club Barcelona) otherwise known as soccer. He also loved nature and all the little critters at the island cabin. He loved walking the beach with "Pan", his rescued cat, watching the barn swallows build their nests and swoop the deck. It made him wish he were flying like that. He loved books, good food, old movies, playing scrabble, and all kinds of music. He always had a positive attitude and no matter what kind of day he was having he found a smile and something good in it. Those of you who have known him throughout his life know if you were his friend, it was for life and he truly cherished every one of you! In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions in Rick's name to the American Cancer Society.
This information was last updated 10/30/2017
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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