Rick Mohnssen
Rick E. Mohnssen, 53, of Golden, Colo., formerly of Rock Island, was tragically killed in a plane crash in Sitka, Alaska, on July 3, 2003.
He was accompanied by four friends from Colorado Springs and was co-piloting the twin-engine Cessna with pilot Michael Baker. The three men on board were very experienced pilots, logging thousands of hours in the air.
The pilot reported trouble with a cargo door, and they were planning to land in Sitka to check out the problem when the crash occurred. There were no survivors. The crash was thought to be caused by terrible weather conditions and poor visibility, very common in southeast Alaska, and is still under investigation.
The group, all outdoor enthusiasts, were to meet Rick's wife, Lovey, and daughter, Samantha, in Anchorage, Alaska, to celebrate the 4th of July and go on a glacier hiking expedition.
Services were held July 13 at Horan and McConaty Family Chapel, Lakewood, Colo., and followed by a celebration-of-his-life party at Lakewood Country Club. Family and friends came from all parts of the world to comfort his wife and children while remembering their beloved Rick E.
The family has asked that contributions be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League or the Humane Society.
Rick was born Sept. 3, 1949, in Rock Island, son of Donald and Margorie Mohnssen. He met and married Lovey Norton in Hilo, Hawaii. They were to celebrate their 15th anniversary on July 26.
Rick attended Moline and Rock Island schools. Rick was a Vietnam veteran with the U.S. Marine Corps during the late 1960s. He was a very proud Marine!
Rick moved to Denver in 1975. He graduated magna cum laude from Metropolitan State College of Colorado.
He worked at Williams Street Center of Denver (a community correctional facility). He later purchased Williams Street Center and opened 10 more facilities throughout Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota. Rick recently sold his business interest to a national company. At the time of his death, he was co-developing a condominium complex in Colorado Springs with friend Michael Baker.
``Papa Rick'' was very proud that he had his second child and a grandchild within the same year. Rick was a licensed pilot and sports enthusiast. He enjoyed flying his private planes, working out with his personal trainer, Mark, golf, scuba diving, gambling, playing euchre with friend, Jim Strandlund, going to Rolling Stones concerts and attending boxing matches in Las Vegas.
Rick was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife, Lovey, daughter, Samantha Nicole, both of Golden; son, Eric Paul Mathias, and grandson, Alexander James Sadler-Mathias, both of Moline; mother, Margorie Ransdell, Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Susie Satelo and Linda Frigueroa, both of Tucson, and Kathleen Erickson, Parma Heights, Ohio; special lifetime friends, Ronald Kleffner, Moline, and Steve Rogers, Milan; and longtime friend, Cindy Jones, Burbank, Calif..
Rick was a self-made man who lived the American dream and will be sadly missed by many.
``You're the man, Rick E.!''
(Reprinted from QC-Online)
