Richard Norman Racek

Obituary RICHARD NORMAN RACEK 02/19/1932 - 03/24/2015 Our sweet Papa Dick passed away peacefully at home with his family all around. He has gone to join our mother Elly and sister Julie in heaven. Dick was born to Lester and Iva Racek in Omaha NE. He graduated Lincoln HS and College of Puget Sound (UPS) with a BA in Business , with minors in Economics and Sociology. At UPS, he met his ‘white rose' Elly to whom he was married 54 years. Dick proudly served in the Navy Reserves '54-'58; paid for school selling shoes at Rhodes Dept Store; retired after 28 years with Kaiser Aluminum as Warehouse Operations Mgr. He was a lifetime member of the Elks; received the St George Award as St Charles Cub Master to Boy Scout Pack #294. Dick was a member of St Charles since 1958. He was an active church leader, a lector, an usher, a grounds keeper, and member of the chancel choir led by his wife Elly. They shared their love of family, animals, camping, singing and acting in theater together. Dick loved handball, skiing and he golfed weekly for over 50 years! Active up to the last few weeks, he was also an 8-yr member of the YMCA Silver Sneakers. He taught his children the love of sports coaching numerous little league and CYO teams. Dick and Steve McCoy helped bring the CYO sports program to St. Charles. Every summer Dick took the family camping around Hood Canal. He was co-founder of the Christian Family Campers. Dick truly enjoyed a GOOD cup of coffee while sitting with his sweet cat "Baby"! Dick was a wonderful man with a huge heart, his life revolving around family and friends. Many lives will be forever changed by having known his love! Dick is survived by his children Susie Fujita (Garry), Chris Racek (Tracey) and Laurie Glover (Danny), his 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 10:30 am at St. Charles Catholic Church in Tacoma. Rosary will be recited Sunday, April 12, 2015 7:00pm at Gaffney Funeral Home. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.