Richard F. Orthen Jr. Obituary (1957 - 2023)

Rick Orthen was a faithful servant of the Lord, a devoted husband and father, an OPA to his treasures, and a loyal dog owner. Richard F. Orthen, Jr., was the only baby boy born to Richard and Catherine Orthen on June 8, 1957. Among his four sisters, he was raised Catholic and was active in his faith throughout his life. Known by his family as "Sonny Boy," Rick and his sisters developed fond memories at family gatherings during their childhood. While he moved frequently as a child, he managed to be a star high school football player and he eventually settled on Emory University in Atlanta, GA, to pursue a degree in Chemistry. From there, he began his long career in the nuclear field, never guessing what the Lord had in store next. As fate would have it, one of his first jobs landed him at Clinton Power Plant in Clinton, IL. A trip to the copy machine forever changed his life when he met and fell in love with Lori Orthen (Walters) of Wapella, IL. After a quick engagement, they married on September 1, 1984, at Wapella Christian Church. From there, God had many plans for Rick. In the late 1980's, he became a father to two children, Ashleigh Metzler (Orthen) and Zachary Orthen. He took the title of Dad very seriously, from building the world's best swing set to taking the kids to the neighborhood pool on the weekends with a gallon of cherry or lime Kool-Aid. He recorded every minute of his children's lives with a large video camera he carried around on his right shoulder - from their first breaths in the hospital to bath times with an overload of bubbles, from playing in sprinklers on Basswood Dr. to reindeer footprints in snow on Christmas mornings. Rick recorded it all, he never missed a minute, and their family adventures are forever sealed on VHS tapes. Rick and Lori raised their children in Aiken, SC, and eventually found themselves in Stuart, FL, nestled against the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean. During this time, both of his children married and they became empty nesters. He was then promoted to Opa after becoming a grandfather to four beautiful granddaughters whom he deemed "his treasures." Rick's final assignment from the Lord was his job in Juno Beach, FL, where he worked as a Principal Licensing Engineer for Florida Power and Light. He made many contributions to environmental safety and policy development at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. He retired from FPL after 14 faithful years in June 2022, and he decided it was time to take Lori back to where their love story began. They moved to Leroy, IL, in December 2022, not far from Lori's family. It was there that they desperately tried to begin the next chapter of their lives. Our Father had other plans for our Rick, and after a sudden diagnosis and brief battle with stage four lung cancer, he went to live eternally in Heaven on February 21, 2023, at 2:22 A.M. He was surrounded by his faithful wife and loving children at the time of his passing. He was only 65 years old. While we prayed for many more years with Rick, the legacy he leaves behind cannot be summed up in words, and his death leaves an indescribable sting. He was the unsung hero most of his life. He worked diligently and quietly behind the scenes to provide for his wife and children without ever expecting praise in return. He made sure Lori had everything she wanted, and he taught Ashleigh and Zachary the hard, valuable lessons of life. He loved his son-in-law and daughter-in-law as if they were his own two children. He cooked his family gourmet, lavish meals with spices they had never heard of, and he made sure his puppies were never left out. He enjoyed long, brisk walks around Mariner Sands - no one could keep up with his pace! It was the simple things in life for Rick: clean air, puffy clouds, reusing anything that could be repurposed, his faith, and fiercely protecting everything God made. He couldn't kill a bug because he knew that they too had a family! He had a strong passion for tinkering with cars, camping in his RV with Lori and the pups, relaxing in his pool, and listening to jazz music while he cooked with his amazing Ruffoni pan collection. He enjoyed hitting tennis balls at Mariner Sands with his Lori and throwing the grand girls around in his pool. He was known for his choice of sunglasses and wearing his signature bucket hat on the sunniest days of his life. Most of all, he was a solid family man who loved the Lord without reservation. It is tough to paint a picture of a man who could literally do it all. Everything he touched, everything he cooked, everything turned from simple ingredients to gold. At the end of his life, Rick still hung the stars for Lori, Ash, and Zach, and he loved his four grand girls fiercely. He was soft spoken and sarcastic, but when his treasures would call, he would loudly exclaim, "It's OPA, you little asparagus noses!" He sure made all of our lives wonderful. His passing has left a deep hole in our hearts that only God can fill. We are so thankful for the gift of Heaven, and we know we will see our dearest Rick again. The faith he displayed during his last weeks of his life was built from his relationship with the Lord, and it is evident by the Bible verses penned in his handwriting all over his new home that he never even got to cook one of his famous meals in. We know Rick would do anything for you to know our Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him be the savior of your life! Rick is survived by: his wife Lori Orthen; his daughter Ashleigh Metzler (Cullen); his son Zachary Orthen (Melissa); his four granddaughters Charlotte, Caroline, Clementine, and Claire Metzler, plus another grand-baby Metzler on the way; his sisters Denise Orthen and Gretchen Walters (Jerry); his mother-in-law Beverly Walters; his brother-in-law Mike Walters (Susan); his six nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by: his parents Richard and Catherine Orthen; his sisters Carol Orthen and Janice Tousley; and his father-in-law Franklin Walters. Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, donations may be made at the link provided, http://participate.lcrf.org/site/TR/CommunityFundraisers/General?px=1935480&pg=personal&fr_id=4112 or if you would like to mail a check, please do so to the following address with a note saying it goes in memory of Richard Orthen. Lung Cancer Research Foundation 501 7th Avenue, Suite 230 New York, NY 10018 or Second Chance for Pets in Clinton, IL.