Rick Wasem

12/18/1954 — 2/14/2025

Service Date: 3/22/2025
Get Directions to Service

Send a Condolence

Rick Wasem, third-generation pharmacist at Clarkston’s Wasem’s Inc.; an award-winning winemaker; beloved husband, brother, friend and son; pillar of the Lewis Clark Valley, who dedicated his life to serving others - smiles for strangers, cabernet for customers, moonshine for friends - died of cancer on February 14. He was 70.

Rick spent his entire life in the Lewis Clark Valley, and there wasn't a corner of the community that he didn't touch: his bands lit up the region's dancehalls and watering holes for more than half a century; he filled the prescriptions that stocked medicine cabinets on both sides of the state line; the wine he made at Basalt Cellars filled the glasses of thousands of customers in Washington, Idaho and beyond. And there was never a community event, organization or cause that he couldn't find a way to support - from the Boys & Girls Clubs and the TriState Health Foundation to the Salvation Army and the Rotary Club of Clarkston.

Rick loved God and fresh powder, fishing and panning for gold, but it was in 1980, when he met his wife, Chris Schmidt, that he hit the mother lode. The two were together and madly in love until Rick made his quiet exit on Valentines Day - holding her hand and saying goodbye.

Cougs, Drugs, and Rock & Roll

Frederick Jay Wasem was born in Clarkston to Clifford and Dorothy Wasem on December 18, 1954. From his earliest days, Rick was intensely curious. He loved rocks, watching his mother garden, riding his bike and playing the piano.

Rick's work ethic, as well as his clever, entrepreneurial spirit were obvious from a very young age. He’d make extra money mowing his neighbors' lawns, but his mother found it curious that he’d convince friends to mow the family's lawn, his chore - until she noticed her cookies were gone and must have been used as payment.

After graduating from Clarkston's Charles Francis High School with the class of 1973, Rick attended Washington State University, where he pledged Delta Sigma Phi. He helped put himself through school playing in rock bands like Sleeper and Messenger. They played covers of songs by artists like Billy Idol, ZZ. Top and Tom Petty mixed in with the occasional original. He played in rock bands until the last year of his life - most recently Heritage.

Rick graduated from WSU in 1980 and joined the family drugstore in Clarkston, Wasem's Inc., joining his father, Cliff, and grandfather, Weldon Wasem. There, he started Wasem's Home Medical and built a state-of-the-art clean room for compounding and mixing IVs. He was on call for medication care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 30 years.

Off the clock, Rick was dedicated to his community, serving on as many as 25 committees at the same time. Over the years, he served on the board for the local Salvation Army, Hospice, Tri-State Health, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Twin River Bank, among many others. He helped found numerous local charity events. He and Chris started Wine, Whiskers & Wags to benefit the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter.

In addition to his wife, Chris, Rick is survived by his sisters Anne (Jeff) Ogard and Katie Wasem; mother-in-law Beulah Schmidt; nieces Merrilee (Drew) Thompson, Melissa (Kurtis) Stroupe, Sarah (Nathan) Kraus; nephews Jonathan Wasem, Stephen Wasem, Matthew Ogard, Ben Schmidt, Mark (julia) Schmidt, Brian (Emily) Schmidt, Thomas (Tawnya) French; brother-in-laws David (Donna) Schmidt and Bob (Charlotte) Schmidt; and his adopted children: Holly (Geno) Bonnalie, Leisha (Zach) Evangelho, Ryo (Arissa) Tsutsui | and Kota (Nakoko) Tsutsui, as well as many beloved cousins and cherished friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Dorothy Wasem, his brother, Jon Wasem, and father-in-law Edward Robert (Bob) Schmidt.

Red, White and Wasem

Rick was the winemaker and co-owner of Clarkston's Basalt Cellars, with Lynn DeVieming. Rick studied winemaking at the Walla Walla Community College branch in Clarkston before co-founding Basalt in 2005.

After visiting multiple grape-growing regions of Europe, Chris and Rick planted their own vineyard on their roperty in 1998, which Rick harvested for use in wines such as Basalt's Estate Syrah Rick defied the odds. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he put his incredible mind to work and collaborated with his incredible physicians who used innovative treatments to get him two years more than they'd originally projected.

Chris and the Wasem family would like to say thank all those who provided Rick with such compassionate and wonderful care, including Dr. Buckley, Dr. Berger and Dr. Seeber, the Interventional Pain Clinic, Dr. Flinders and Dr. Haas and their incredible staff and everyone at TriState Emergency Room, as well as Elite Home Health for amazing care, service and kindness. How special each and every one of you were to him - he was very proud of how well everyone worked together for his care.

Rick’s Rules

In the final month of his life, Rick wrote down Rick's Rules:

1. Treat all people - regardless of their station in life - with respect, kindness and compassion.

2. Smile at people! Say hello to strangers. Hold the door for the next person.

3. Share your talents, time and treasure with organizations that do good for your community and those less fortunate.

4. Never stop learning. Keep your mind sharp by taking on cognitive challenges, whether it's your vocation, hobby, charity or just learning more history, science - whatever interests you - that's good for your brain makes you a more interesting person socially.

5. Always leave this world a better place because of your accomplishments and kindness.

Although that feels like a tidy way to end this tribute, Rick would have appreciated you closing things out with him by saying hello to your neighbor, raising a glass with a friend, giving a kiss to the person you love, then standing tall and shouting loudly: GO COUGS!

A memorial service and celebration of life will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 22 at Mission Church 2377 Appleside Blvd, Clarkston, with overflow available at the Sternwheel Room at the Holiday Inn, 700 Port Drive, Clarkston. An after-service event will take place at the Convention Center at the Holiday Inn. Donations in Rick's name can be made to TriState Health.

Service Information

Date & Time: Saturday, March 22, 2:00 PM
Location: Asotin County Fire Department/Mission Church
2377 Appleside Boulevard
Clarkston, Washington 99403

Get Directions
Additional Details: Overflow seating will be at Sternwheel Room at the Holiday Inn in Clarkston. A reception will be held following the service at the Convention Center at the Holiday Inn.