Richard Philip Fiedler

Richard (Dick) Philip Fiedler passed peacefully at home in Auburn on October 17, 2017. Richard is survived by his four daughters Corrinne (Zenobia), Joan (Craig) Geyer, Diane (Wm. Dean) Farrell, and Susanne Duren; his grandchildren Wm. Ian (Sara) Farrell, and Caitlin (Kyle) Luccio; and three great grandchildren Athena, Wm. Henry, and Eleanor. His wife Margaret (Evans) Fiedler, parents Arthur Harry and Myrtle Corrinne (Texley) Fiedler, and two brothers Arthur and William (Bill) Fiedler preceded him in death.

Richard was born in Fargo, North Dakota and in true railroad family fashion lived in many towns both in North Dakota and Montana, before finally settling in Western Washington. His favorite of all those towns was Livingston, Montana. Dick was both ambitious and hard working holding jobs from an early age. He graduated from Seattle’s Roosevelt High School in 1947. His tennis skills took him to a year at Whitworth College. Back in Seattle he met Margaret Evans who became his wife in August of 1950. They celebrated a 66th anniversary before her death in February, 2016.

Dick followed his family tradition and worked for the railroads for the entirety of his long and successful career. From his humble beginnings washing the engines at age 15, he worked his way up to the position of Fireman, and reached his final position of Engineer – a job he loved and held for the majority of his working years. Dick's 50 year railroad career began with his beloved Northern Pacific Railroad, which became the Burlington Northern, and finished with driving for Amtrak in 1994.

Dick served as a city councilperson for the City of Auburn from 1970 until 1973 – his advice to family members who followed his political path was to “do your homework”.

Dick raised four girls and infused them with much of his personality. Memories include stories of his father playing semi-pro baseball for Walla-Walla, having his girls sit on the hand crank ice cream freezer while he turned it to completion, and flying kites with daughters and extra neighborhood kids at the local Auburn park including running home for more string to get the kites higher and then chasing them in the car when the string broke. Many will also remember his green thumb, growing tomatoes, jalapenos, roses and a basement full of tulips forced for a daughter’s wedding in February. Margaret used to say he lived by the motto “if a little is good, a lot is better” and that surely included his love of spicy foods. Most of all he passed on his strong work ethic, and, just like any good engineer, the ability to always be on time. None however inherited that booming voice.

After retirement he and Margaret traveled the globe visiting exchange students and friends near and far with special focus on the 'always on time' railroads in Japan, Australia and Switzerland. Dick was a dedicated caregiver to his dear Margaret for many of her later years – they surely will spend their time together playing bridge or working the day’s crossword puzzle.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 27, 2017, 11:00AM at Mountain View Cemetery in Auburn, WA. A gathering for family and friends will follow in the Assembly Hall at Wesley Lea Hills in Auburn from 11:30AM until 1:00PM. In lieu of flowers you may consider a gift to the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives in his honor.