Richard Eugene Schnell

Dick was born February 7, 1939 in Torrington, Wyoming where he was raised in a large family by parents John and Mary Schnell.

A good but mischievous student, Dick loved sports and grew up playing football, basketball and tennis. Upon high school graduation, he received multiple football and basketball scholarships. He opted to join the University of Wyoming football team, coached by the legendary Bob Devaney. As a proud Wyoming Cowboy, Dick helped his team win conference championships. He was also named to the Skyline All-Conference team.

Dick was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1961 NFL Draft but made the decision to play in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes, allowing him the opportunity to earn his structural engineering post-graduate certification at McGill University. He later played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders before sustaining a career-ending injury. He then moved his young family to Washington state where he started his long career in the construction industry and began officiating basketball and football, ultimately becoming a football official for the Pac-8 and later the Pac-10.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents and multiple siblings. Dick was a loving and always-fun husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Patty Schnell, his three daughters and their husbands: Kelly and Brian Huotari, Kristin and Brian Hartnett, and Kati and Tim Quigley, along with his six grandchildren: Bret, Chelsea, and Rachel Hartnett, Chandler Huotari, and Conor and Colin Quigley. He also leaves behind sisters Julie Stevenson and her husband George, and Norma Busch and her husband Bob.

Family and friends are invited to attend Dick's Memorial Service at Sunset Hills Memorial Park and Funeral Home at 1215 145th Place SE in Bellevue on Friday, October 27. The viewing will start at 2 p.m., followed by a celebratory service at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dick’s honor to Continuum Care of Washington, the hospice organization that provided Dick compassion and comfort in his final days.