~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Richard
'Dick' Ohrbeck
June 24, 1923 ~ August 28,
2016
Word has reached us with the passing of
RNPA member retired NWA pilot Captain Richard Stanley Ohrbeck, age 93.
Richard's father Joseph Edward Ohrbeck, born Sept. 5, 1899 and died in October
of 1979, was also a Northwest Captain. Richard was widowed in April 2007 with
the passing of his wife Margaret. The
Ohrbecks had most recently resided in Naples, Florida.
Captain Richard Ohrbeck's obituary notes
that services have already been held. Arrangements were entrusted to Hodges
Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens in Florida.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary.................Richard 'Dick'
Ohrbeck
One of the country's most
accomplished commercial airline pilots and the holder of several records as an
aviation pioneer, died in Naples, Florida on August 28 at the age of 93 with his
family at his side. Born in 1923 in Minneapolis, Ohrbeck piloted 17 different
commercial aircraft over a career spanning 49 years from 1942 to 1992 with
Northwest Airlines (now Delta). He was the youngest pilot in U.S. to fly
commercially as a Copilot at 19 years of age and became a Captain at 23 years of
age. He flew over 6,000 fights and 11 million miles, mostly as a 37-year Captain
flying 747 aircraft internationally (2,800 Pacific and Atlantic crossings). A
student of aerodynamics, meteorology, wind and flying fundamentals, Ohrbeck
started his flying lessons at age 7 and received his pilot's license at age 17.
His father Joseph Ohrbeck, also a Northwest Captain and head of the United
States Military Airforce Command in the Northern Region, was instrumental in
introducing his son to flying and later the two of them became the first
father-son team to fly a commercial airline in the U.S. When he retired, Ohrbeck
was the most senior commercial airline Captain in the U.S. Captain Ohrbeck
served in the U.S. Army Air Transport Command during World War II (1943-1945)
and the Korean War (1950-1953), and with Top Secret Security Clearance flew the
Korean Airlift from 1949-54 in DC-4s across the Pacific Ocean. Richard Stanley
"Dick" Ohrbeck, was born June 24, 1923, and grew up in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
He was a graduate of University High School (Minneapolis) where he was a
standout high school athlete. He served as the football captain and was a
two-time All-Conference player. He also excelled in wrestling and track and
field, where he took First Place Honors in five events at a state meet. In 1955,
he moved to Excelsior where he coached youth sports in football, baseball and
hockey, was instrumental in developing the sport of waterskiing in the Midwest
and participated in competitive sailboat racing in several classes of yachts at
the Upper Lake Minne-tonka Yacht Club. He later lived in Marco Island, FL and
Naples, FL. Preceded in death by his wife Margaret and son David, he is survived
by his brother Tom and sister Delores, his daughters Chris (Fretland), Colleen
(Browne), Cathy (Hartwig), son Tom, grandchildren Jackie Sudame, Jennifer
Hartwig and John Browne, and great grandchild Arya Sudame. Services have already
been conducted.
.Published on September 3,
2016
-------------------------------
Margaret V. Ohrbeck (1923 -
2007)
Margaret Virgina Ohrbeck,
83, of Naples formerly of Excelsior, MN, died April 19, 2007. Margaret graduated
from Minneapolis Roosevelt High School in 1941. She was employed by the Soo Line
Railroad in Minneapolis from 1942 to 1945 and was a flight attendant for
Northwest Airlines. She spent her winters in Marco Island starting in 1980 and
moved from Excelsior to Marco Island in 1990 where she was a dedicated volunteer
at the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce. In 2000 She moved to Naples. She was
preceded in death by her parents; Emma and Henry Peterson; sisters, Elsie,
Burnett and Grace. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Richard S.
Ohrbeck and sister Lillian Larson; children, Christine L. (Richard) Fretland of
Dillon, CO, Colleen M. (Timothy) Browne; of Excelsior, MN, Cathy S. (Ted)
Hartwig of Eden Prairie, MN; Thomas J. (Chris) Ohrbeck of Kansas City, MO., and
David R. (Olga) Ohrbeck of Fargo ND., grandchildren, Jackelyn Hartwig, Jennifer
Hartwig, John David Browne. She was preceded in death by her parents; Emma and
Henry Peterson; and sisters, Elsie, Burnett and Grace. Visitation will be
Tuesday April 24, 2007 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Naples Memorial
Funeral Home, 525 111th Ave North, 239-5973101. A celebration of Margaret's life
will be held on April 25, 2007 at 4:00 p.m. at Towerpointe, 17th floor, 1001
Arbor Lakes Drive in Naples. Memorial contributions can be made at the donor's
choice.
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