August 10, 1942 - September 13, 2023
Richard W. Hieb passed away on September 13, 2023. He was born on August 10, 1942, in Lodi, CA to parents Herbert and Martha Hieb.
Richard graduated from Lodi High School in 1960, where he played basketball and baseball. He earned a Life Pass to Lodi High School sporting events by playing on three championship basketball teams and was a big fan of Lodi High Sports. He attended Stockton College (now San Joaquin Delta) where he continued to play basketball and graduated in 1962 with an Associate of Arts degree in engineering technology.
Richard began work as an Engineering Aide I for the San Joaquin County Public Works Department in 1962 and retired as an Engineering Assistant III in 2000.
Richard’s fifteen minutes of fame came in 1960 when he carried the Olympic Torch as part of the Torch Relay to Squaw Valley’s Winter Olympics.
Richard enjoyed the outdoors hunting ducks and pheasants, fishing for bass and trout and bird watching.
He was a member of the San Joaquin Audubon Society and was Treasurer of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. He was also an active member of First Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the Trustee Board and served as an usher for many years. Richard could be recognized around town by his trademark red Lodi High baseball cap.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents in 1974. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gloria and his two sons, Darin of Folsom and Eric of Lodi. He has a brother, Dr. Kenneth Hieb of Fresno and a sister, Beverly Vogt of Cottage Grove, Oregon. Richard was the great- grandson of Wilhelm Hieb, who was the first German from Russia to migrate to Lodi.
At the family’s request, services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lodi High School Athletic Department.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Hieb family.