Astoria

Feb. 20, 1952 — Aug. 12, 2023

Richard Wilhard Gustafson unexpectedly passed away at home in Astoria on Aug. 12. He was 71 years old.

Richard was born in Astoria, on Feb. 20, 1952, the second son of (Tor) Wilhard Gustafson and Marie Helen Kiss. He grew up in “Kissville,” surrounded by family in one of the three houses his grandfather, John Kiss, built. As a child, he adored his grandfather, who taught him to play chess and instilled the love to build and create innovative inventions.

He loved motorcycles, and his first job while still in high school was in a motorcycle shop. He singularly drove his “freedom machine” 2,500 miles to Mexico to meet up with several very surprised buddies.

Richard graduated from Astoria High School in 1970. At age 18, Richard and his friend, Gary Madsen, hitchhiked across the U.S. with about $100 each. At one point, they were offered an airplane ride in New York, and they hopped aboard.

He continued to challenge himself his whole life, taking on projects, including large home renovations. It was hard for Richard not to be moving; his work ethic was something family and friends always admired in him.

Richard was the son of a longshoreman, and he followed in his father’s footsteps. He was a proud longshoreman for 38 years. He loved the variety and physicality of the job.

Richard was the last draftee from Clatsop County. He did his basic training at Fort Leonard, Missouri, and was continually “rewarded” with extra push-ups on many occasions. He went to Texas for advanced training, and was very proud of the entomology specimens he collected. For the duration of his service, he was stationed in Tacoma, Washington.

In 1973, Richard married Roxanne Stidham, and they had three sons: Loren Richard (Danielle), and grandchildren, Aiden, Lee, Elin, Priya, Vance and Harlen; Colin Keith (LeeAnn), and granddaughter, Alayna; and Tyler Jay (Brooke), and grandchildren, Colton, Ayla, Kellen and Soren.

In 1990, Richard married Colleen Tilley. They had a daughter, Hayley June Tilley Gustafson Wallace (Scotland), and grandchildren, Jay Richard Linquist and Findlay Wallace.

When the children were growing up, the house was filled with many friends who would shoot hoops, color Easter eggs or carve pumpkins. Richard was always in the middle of the mayhem, enjoying every minute.

Richard regularly measured the children’s growth on the arched wall of the dining room. The children, and eventually the grandchildren, became quite used to him gathering his level and knife. He had to be accurate within an eighth of an inch. There are more than 200 hundred strips of paper with names, dates and the most precise scientific measurements possible.

Neighbor girls, Bronte and Sabine Noguerra, danced and dined their way into Richard’s heart, sharing many meals and entertaining him with their stories.

From the age of 10, Richard devoured National Geographic. He studied maps and could recall cities, capitals and locations all over the world. You would always be happy to have him on your trivia team.

In addition, he would time himself in several daily crossword puzzles that he did every day without fail. He never crossed his A’s, in order to save time. Not a single day passed that Richard did not read at least one newspaper; this routine was not to be deviated from.

He had a soft spot for the underdog, and voiced his concern of the growing fiscal divide of the working man and corporations.

Richard’s Labiske tree farm was his passion that burned deeply. He spent hours laboriously taking care of his trees. He was a one-man show, and harvested carefully. He hand-planted more than a thousand trees in his lifetime.

Richard loved to travel, and went to great lengths to talk to people when he ventured to places unknown. He looked for the road less traveled, and enjoyed finding the hidden off-the-beaten-path treasures, using public transportation and learning a few words that he felt conveyed an effort to be respectful of their culture.

Richard is survived by his four children and 13 grandchildren; Roxanne Welch and Colleen Tilley; his brother, Jon Gustafson; and several cousins.

A memorial service will be announced in February.