Tribute: Dr. Richard Reuben Sackmann

Dr. Richard Reuben Sackmann, 93, passed away Sunday, December 16th in his Yakima home. He was born November 10, 1919 in the German community of Ritzville Wa. to Martin and Caroline (Hille) Sackmann. He was raised on a wheat farm that was homesteaded by his German immigrant parents. At the age of 12, he set a long jump record and graduated from Odessa High school at age 16. He went on to the University of Washington and received a degree in pharmacy then entered the University of Oregon Medical School, later specializing in anesthesia. He worked on the family farm and worked as a longshoreman in Seattle. His fellow longshoreman took great care of “Doc” and his hands. While attending Medical school in 1942 he married the love of his life Eleanore Schauerman and enjoyed his marriage for 68 years. They met at church. Eleanore accompanied him on the organ and piano as he sang for the congregation, all in German. He then graduated from the University of Oregon Medical School in 1947 and interned at Swedish Hospital and completed his specialty residences at Swedish and Tacoma Hospitals, later obtaining his American Boards Certification. He came to Yakima in 1950 and established the first anesthesia service. He entered the Air Force and lived in Burtonwood, England while serving his country. He returned to Yakima in 1955 and established Physicians Anesthesia Associates with Dr. Robert Fisher. PAA continues to this day. He served as President of the St. Elizabeth medical staff, Yakima County Medical Society, and Chief of Staff at St. Elizabeths Medical Center.

For 35 years he served as a dedicated doctor to his patients and colleagues and retired in 1985. Hard work, honesty and integrity were of the utmost importance.

Rich is survived by his wife and sweetheart Eleanore, son Richard Sackmann and wife Shirley Baum Sackmann and the grandchildren, Christopher and wife Julia and great granddaughter Sophia, grandson Matthew and wife Lianna, daughter Susan Jonsson and husband Dwight Jonsson and grandsons Dwight and Andrew, daughter Christine Ehlers and husband Ken Ehlers, son David Sackmann and wife Robin and grandchildren Carey, William and Trevor Sackmann and his sister Wilma Lee. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Bertha Sackmann and Martha McKinnon, and brothers, Herbert and Milton Sackmann.

He played as hard as he worked. Rich was a founding member of the Yakima Tennis Club and member of the original White Pass Ski Club. Tennis and skiing were his passion and he continued both until the age of 88. Hunting and especially fishing were close seconds. Skiing took him from Washington to Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Europe with Eleanore and his children. For 20 years, Kapalua, Maui was a favorite destination for tennis and family time. Almost every vacation included his children and grandchildren. He wanted his children to learn and see the world. He loved his family and shared stories of his childhood on the wheat farm, some of them historical and others hysterical. Richard had a great sense of humor. He was the rock and center of our family. We will miss him dearly.