Richard "Stretch" Leo Ahlman, 64, a longtime resident of Idaho Falls, died May 30, 2016, surrounded by family, at Teton Post Acute. He died of pneumonia related to a stroke 11 months ago.
He was born May 1, 1952, in Idaho Falls, to Henning Leo Ahlman and Florene Anita (Albers) Ahlman. He attended school in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering.
He worked at the Idaho National Laboratory for 36 years, starting at the Experimental Test Reactor (ETR) as an experimental power reactor operator (EPRO) until the reactor shutdown in 1982. He then transferred to the Chemical Processing Plant (CPP), which later become known as the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). There he worked at the Coal Fire Plant for four-five years until it shut down and finished the remainder of his career as a senior utility operator working in the various buildings around INTEC.
Richard enjoyed photography, bowling, skiing, camping and rock collecting.
He was an adventurous motorcyclist and was regularly seen riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles around town with nothing but shorts and a short sleeved shirt. It didn't matter if it was winter or summer, he always wore shorts. He traveled to Sturgis every year, and after finding out that he was born in the year of the dragon, he returned home proudly displaying a new dragon tattoo only to make his mother grimace in pain. His tall stature caught everyone's attention and thus he became known as STRETCH or the "Gentle Giant." He was a regular at the Apple Athletic Club and at Grand Targhee Ski Resort, where he wore his shorts in disbelief to all the other well-dressed skiers. Although he always wished he would have married and had kids, marriage was not for him.
Richard enjoyed spending time with his family, co-workers and extended church family at St. John Lutheran Church, where he never passed up a piece of cake, a handful of cookies or a "sodie pop." He was a man who loved his treats.
He is survived by his sister, Deborah (Paul) Chaffee of Idaho Falls; nieces, Carly Jo (Matt) Houser and Alexis Ann (Omar) Rodriguez; two nephews, Gabe and Maddex Rodriguez; and a whole slew of cousins located in the surrounding area.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, at St. John Lutheran Church, 290 Seventh St. Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family expresses a special thank you to the caregivers at Teton Post Acute for their professionalism and loving care during the end and Josh with I Care Patrol.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.
Published in Post Register from June 1 to June 2, 2016
Richard "Stretch" Leo Ahlman, 64, a longtime resident of Idaho Falls, died May 30, 2016, surrounded by family, at Teton Post Acute. He died of pneumonia related to a stroke 11 months ago.
He was born May 1, 1952, in Idaho Falls, to Henning Leo Ahlman and Florene Anita (Albers) Ahlman. He attended school in Idaho Falls and graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Science in nuclear engineering.
He worked at the Idaho National Laboratory for 36 years, starting at the Experimental Test Reactor (ETR) as an experimental power reactor operator (EPRO) until the reactor shutdown in 1982. He then transferred to the Chemical Processing Plant (CPP), which later become known as the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center (INTEC). There he worked at the Coal Fire Plant for four-five years until it shut down and finished the remainder of his career as a senior utility operator working in the various buildings around INTEC.
Richard enjoyed photography, bowling, skiing, camping and rock collecting.
He was an adventurous motorcyclist and was regularly seen riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles around town with nothing but shorts and a short sleeved shirt. It didn't matter if it was winter or summer, he always wore shorts. He traveled to Sturgis every year, and after finding out that he was born in the year of the dragon, he returned home proudly displaying a new dragon tattoo only to make his mother grimace in pain. His tall stature caught everyone's attention and thus he became known as STRETCH or the "Gentle Giant." He was a regular at the Apple Athletic Club and at Grand Targhee Ski Resort, where he wore his shorts in disbelief to all the other well-dressed skiers. Although he always wished he would have married and had kids, marriage was not for him.
Richard enjoyed spending time with his family, co-workers and extended church family at St. John Lutheran Church, where he never passed up a piece of cake, a handful of cookies or a "sodie pop." He was a man who loved his treats.
He is survived by his sister, Deborah (Paul) Chaffee of Idaho Falls; nieces, Carly Jo (Matt) Houser and Alexis Ann (Omar) Rodriguez; two nephews, Gabe and Maddex Rodriguez; and a whole slew of cousins located in the surrounding area.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, at St. John Lutheran Church, 290 Seventh St. Family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family expresses a special thank you to the caregivers at Teton Post Acute for their professionalism and loving care during the end and Josh with I Care Patrol.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.
Published in Post Register from June 1 to June 2, 2016
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