Gary Lee Schricker

Gary Lee Schricker, loving husband, father, pop pop, brother, cousin and friend, 73, of Olympia, Washington passed away this month peacefully at Providence St. Peter Hospital.

Gary was born in Grand Island, Nebraska, son of Ralph and Harriett. Three years later he was joined by his sister Janet. Growing up in the midwest meant hard work, family values, and endless outdoor adventures. His childhood home was neighbored by a farm, where you could find Gary driving and working a tractor at 12 years old or catching his little sister’s horse Snowfire, who gave everyone quite the run for their patience. 

In his teenage years and through college summers, Gary worked as a dock boy on his aunt and uncle’s resort in Lake Leach, Minnesota. There he learned how to drive and maintain boats, mow perfectly neat golf course greens, and take care of various odds and ends. His love for nature and recreation truly took root! Back home he enjoyed various adventures and outdoor skill building with the local boy scouts, Troop 101 of Grand Island, Nebraska, achieving the coveted Eagle Scout rank.

After high school, Gary was ready for his next adventure and joined the Army ROTC program at the University of Nebraska Lincoln, graduating in 1974 as Second Lieutenant with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. It was time to see the world! His first tour of duty took him to Fairbanks, Alaska where he fulfilled dreams of hunting and fishing in some of the most beautiful and scenic destinations. As a person who worked hard, and played harder, it would only make sense that his wildest trip was one that involved backpacking across a glacier in the dangerous tundra of the Alaskan wilderness. Can you imagine being dropped off by helicopter with no phone service or amenities? Building snow caves, making fires for warmth, rationing food, and carrying your entire existence with a fellow just-as-wild friend? Priceless.

But there was more than just the outdoors that caught Gary’s attention in Alaska. He also met his wife Grace (Pape), who was in town visiting her sister. A man who knows what he wants, and a woman who brings life and laughter to any gathering, Gary and Grace were married in Anchorage, Alaska in 1977 with a stunning ceremony featuring the arch of sabers military tradition. They wrapped up the celebration and fun with a tropical honeymoon in Hawaii. In 1985, their love grew with the welcoming of their only child and daughter, Kelly.

Gary’s other tours of duty included Fort Knox - Kentucky, Fort Rily - Kansas, Seoul - South Korea, Peterson AFB and NORAD - Colorado, Frankfurt - Germany, Fort Ord - California, and Fort Lewis, Washington. His favorite role across his twenty years of active duty military service was being a United States Army helicopter pilot. Technology like night vision goggles and helmet gun controls kept training exercises exciting! One of his proudest career moments was earning the coveted spot of alternate in the NASA astronaut space program. He retired in 1996 having achieved his Master of Arts in Computer Data Management from Webster University and the rank of Major.

Then it was time to join civilian life. Helicopter pilots use standard operating procedures and contingency planning, so naturally his skill set fit well into the corporate project management space. He spent a year and half working for Cubic Applications as project manager, and then he joined the Washington State Department of Health where he held various IT projects, senior management, and Chief Technology and Information Officer roles across 24 years. Gary was strategy and results driven, and received recognition for many achievements and milestones throughout his career. One of his favorite awards was given to him personally by Governor Gary Locke in 1999 for Distinguished Management Leadership. Gary retired in December 2019, celebrated and appreciated by his colleagues and leaders, alongside his proud wife and daughter.

Outside of work and career accomplishments, Gary loved hunting, fishing, range dates with his daughter, building RC cars and rockets, souping up his FJ Cruiser, traveling with his wife Grace, and becoming a Pop Pop to his one and only grandson, Soren (2015). He honed in on his chef and culinary interests later in life, making meals and desserts fit for kings and queens. Pulled pork, ribs, and steak on the Traegger were family favorite requests, along with Schrick-McMuffins, biscuits and gravy, and a banana cream pie delicacy that took three days to create! 

Gary was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife Grace, daughter Kelly, (Justin), grandson Soren; sister Janet (Clyde), niece Lisa (Tyler) and son Tyson, niece Julie (Tim) and sons Aaron and Ethan. His final wishes were to be cremated with no ceremony or formal gathering. His family plans to spread his ashes next year in the beautiful mountains and sunshine of Colorado, which was his favorite place to be!