Dr. Gordon William Riffel was born in Legasppi, Philippines, on June 24, 1929, the son of missionaries, William B. and Esther (Rippey) Riffel.
At the age of 12, his family of five was captured by the Japanese and interred in a total of five different prison camps for the next 33 months. Miraculously, with the aid of the paratroopers of the 511 Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the entire family was rescued on February 23, 1945, the very day that the Japanese were scheduled to execute all 2,000-plus prisoners in the Los Banos prison camp.
After returning home to the Northwest, Gordon caught up quickly with his studies and graduated from Walla Walla College Academy in 1947. He also graduated from Walla Walla College in 1951 with a BA degree in Biology, as well as minors in Chemistry and Theology. Prior to heading to California for medical school, he proposed to the beautiful and talented Adeline Roehl. Fortunately, she said yes and they were married on June 12, 1952. Over the next seven years, five children were born.
Gordon was granted his M.D. degree from the College of Medical Evangelists (now known as Loma Linda University Medical School) in 1955. He did a year internship in Portland and two years in Ulm, Germany as a Captain in the United States Army, before settling in the Bourbon-Sullivan, MO area, where he would practice family medicine for the next 39 years.
Without a local hospital in those early years and holding office hours in both Cuba and Bourbon, life was more than hectic. Dr. Riffel would drive to Rolla and Jefferson City to deliver babies and admit patients to the hospital. This necessitated an arrangement with the local sheriff’s office where he was sworn in as a deputy sheriff; giving him permission to install red lights in the high beams of his vehicle.
Being the only doctor in the small town and one of the few in the area meant that the doctor was on call 24/7. In 1962 Sullivan opened a hospital, but the new challenge was that local doctors had to cover the emergency room. Countless times Dr. Riffel would have to leave a waiting room full of patients while he rushed to the ER. Fortunately, his patients loved him and would wait for his return.
Over the years, Dr. Riffel delivered more than 3,000 babies, including a set of Siamese twins. He performed countless surgeries, doing C-sections, hernia repairs, appendectomies, tonsillectomies, carpal tunnels, casting and bone sets. He taught surgeons how to do surgery. He did orthopedics and some plastic surgery.
He was inventive, resourceful, and creative: even reattaching digits and tendons. When a patient asked him to take out her gallbladder, he told her he didn’t do that. She would not take no for an answer, so he enlisted the assistance of a local surgeon. And he made house calls; lots of them. They just don’t make doctors like that anymore!
Dr. Riffel was an active, participating member of the Bourbon Seventh Day Adventist Church where he taught a weekly Sabbath School class. He was an elder and regularly took his turn in the pulpit, as well as serving on various local, conference, and union committees and boards.
The Riffels retired in 1998, moving to Spokane, WA, to be near several of their children. Gordon was again active in his local church and volunteered for various area ministries. He focused on his family, joining them in many camping trips and providing them with choice garden produce. He also loved waterskiing and bicycling.
Adeline had serious health issues and Gordon was her faithful companion and caregiver. After her death in May of 2010, Gordon fulfilled his dream of a road trip back East to see many of Adeline’s relatives and his friends in Missouri. He drove 4,400 miles alone at the age of 80 and returned back to Spokane rejuvenated and energized just ahead of the snow in November, 2010.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the following February. He fought this illness with brave courage; sharing joy, encouragement, and contagious faith with hospital, cancer clinic, and hospice staff. He was a favorite of all fortunate enough to care for him. Gordon died peacefully in his home on February 20, 2012, with his family around him.
Dr. Gordon Riffel is survived by three daughters, one son, two sisters, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Steven Edward Riffel; and granddaughter, Angela.
Dr. Riffel leaves an amazing legacy of love for his God, family, friends, and country. He is at peace now in Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane, WA, beside his beloved Adeline, awaiting the soon return of his Lord and Savior.
There will be a memorial service for Dr. Riffel on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Central Seventh SDA Church, 828 W. Spofford Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Riffel requested donations be made to Hope Channel--Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan, MO
At the age of 12, his family of five was captured by the Japanese and interred in a total of five different prison camps for the next 33 months. Miraculously, with the aid of the paratroopers of the 511 Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the entire family was rescued on February 23, 1945, the very day that the Japanese were scheduled to execute all 2,000-plus prisoners in the Los Banos prison camp.
After returning home to the Northwest, Gordon caught up quickly with his studies and graduated from Walla Walla College Academy in 1947. He also graduated from Walla Walla College in 1951 with a BA degree in Biology, as well as minors in Chemistry and Theology. Prior to heading to California for medical school, he proposed to the beautiful and talented Adeline Roehl. Fortunately, she said yes and they were married on June 12, 1952. Over the next seven years, five children were born.
Gordon was granted his M.D. degree from the College of Medical Evangelists (now known as Loma Linda University Medical School) in 1955. He did a year internship in Portland and two years in Ulm, Germany as a Captain in the United States Army, before settling in the Bourbon-Sullivan, MO area, where he would practice family medicine for the next 39 years.
Without a local hospital in those early years and holding office hours in both Cuba and Bourbon, life was more than hectic. Dr. Riffel would drive to Rolla and Jefferson City to deliver babies and admit patients to the hospital. This necessitated an arrangement with the local sheriff’s office where he was sworn in as a deputy sheriff; giving him permission to install red lights in the high beams of his vehicle.
Being the only doctor in the small town and one of the few in the area meant that the doctor was on call 24/7. In 1962 Sullivan opened a hospital, but the new challenge was that local doctors had to cover the emergency room. Countless times Dr. Riffel would have to leave a waiting room full of patients while he rushed to the ER. Fortunately, his patients loved him and would wait for his return.
Over the years, Dr. Riffel delivered more than 3,000 babies, including a set of Siamese twins. He performed countless surgeries, doing C-sections, hernia repairs, appendectomies, tonsillectomies, carpal tunnels, casting and bone sets. He taught surgeons how to do surgery. He did orthopedics and some plastic surgery.
He was inventive, resourceful, and creative: even reattaching digits and tendons. When a patient asked him to take out her gallbladder, he told her he didn’t do that. She would not take no for an answer, so he enlisted the assistance of a local surgeon. And he made house calls; lots of them. They just don’t make doctors like that anymore!
Dr. Riffel was an active, participating member of the Bourbon Seventh Day Adventist Church where he taught a weekly Sabbath School class. He was an elder and regularly took his turn in the pulpit, as well as serving on various local, conference, and union committees and boards.
The Riffels retired in 1998, moving to Spokane, WA, to be near several of their children. Gordon was again active in his local church and volunteered for various area ministries. He focused on his family, joining them in many camping trips and providing them with choice garden produce. He also loved waterskiing and bicycling.
Adeline had serious health issues and Gordon was her faithful companion and caregiver. After her death in May of 2010, Gordon fulfilled his dream of a road trip back East to see many of Adeline’s relatives and his friends in Missouri. He drove 4,400 miles alone at the age of 80 and returned back to Spokane rejuvenated and energized just ahead of the snow in November, 2010.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the following February. He fought this illness with brave courage; sharing joy, encouragement, and contagious faith with hospital, cancer clinic, and hospice staff. He was a favorite of all fortunate enough to care for him. Gordon died peacefully in his home on February 20, 2012, with his family around him.
Dr. Gordon Riffel is survived by three daughters, one son, two sisters, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Steven Edward Riffel; and granddaughter, Angela.
Dr. Riffel leaves an amazing legacy of love for his God, family, friends, and country. He is at peace now in Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane, WA, beside his beloved Adeline, awaiting the soon return of his Lord and Savior.
There will be a memorial service for Dr. Riffel on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Central Seventh SDA Church, 828 W. Spofford Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Riffel requested donations be made to Hope Channel--Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan, MO
Dr. Gordon William Riffel was born in Legasppi, Philippines, on June 24, 1929, the son of missionaries, William B. and Esther (Rippey) Riffel.
At the age of 12, his family of five was captured by the Japanese and interred in a total of five different prison camps for the next 33 months. Miraculously, with the aid of the paratroopers of the 511 Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the entire family was rescued on February 23, 1945, the very day that the Japanese were scheduled to execute all 2,000-plus prisoners in the Los Banos prison camp.
After returning home to the Northwest, Gordon caught up quickly with his studies and graduated from Walla Walla College Academy in 1947. He also graduated from Walla Walla College in 1951 with a BA degree in Biology, as well as minors in Chemistry and Theology. Prior to heading to California for medical school, he proposed to the beautiful and talented Adeline Roehl. Fortunately, she said yes and they were married on June 12, 1952. Over the next seven years, five children were born.
Gordon was granted his M.D. degree from the College of Medical Evangelists (now known as Loma Linda University Medical School) in 1955. He did a year internship in Portland and two years in Ulm, Germany as a Captain in the United States Army, before settling in the Bourbon-Sullivan, MO area, where he would practice family medicine for the next 39 years.
Without a local hospital in those early years and holding office hours in both Cuba and Bourbon, life was more than hectic. Dr. Riffel would drive to Rolla and Jefferson City to deliver babies and admit patients to the hospital. This necessitated an arrangement with the local sheriff’s office where he was sworn in as a deputy sheriff; giving him permission to install red lights in the high beams of his vehicle.
Being the only doctor in the small town and one of the few in the area meant that the doctor was on call 24/7. In 1962 Sullivan opened a hospital, but the new challenge was that local doctors had to cover the emergency room. Countless times Dr. Riffel would have to leave a waiting room full of patients while he rushed to the ER. Fortunately, his patients loved him and would wait for his return.
Over the years, Dr. Riffel delivered more than 3,000 babies, including a set of Siamese twins. He performed countless surgeries, doing C-sections, hernia repairs, appendectomies, tonsillectomies, carpal tunnels, casting and bone sets. He taught surgeons how to do surgery. He did orthopedics and some plastic surgery.
He was inventive, resourceful, and creative: even reattaching digits and tendons. When a patient asked him to take out her gallbladder, he told her he didn’t do that. She would not take no for an answer, so he enlisted the assistance of a local surgeon. And he made house calls; lots of them. They just don’t make doctors like that anymore!
Dr. Riffel was an active, participating member of the Bourbon Seventh Day Adventist Church where he taught a weekly Sabbath School class. He was an elder and regularly took his turn in the pulpit, as well as serving on various local, conference, and union committees and boards.
The Riffels retired in 1998, moving to Spokane, WA, to be near several of their children. Gordon was again active in his local church and volunteered for various area ministries. He focused on his family, joining them in many camping trips and providing them with choice garden produce. He also loved waterskiing and bicycling.
Adeline had serious health issues and Gordon was her faithful companion and caregiver. After her death in May of 2010, Gordon fulfilled his dream of a road trip back East to see many of Adeline’s relatives and his friends in Missouri. He drove 4,400 miles alone at the age of 80 and returned back to Spokane rejuvenated and energized just ahead of the snow in November, 2010.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the following February. He fought this illness with brave courage; sharing joy, encouragement, and contagious faith with hospital, cancer clinic, and hospice staff. He was a favorite of all fortunate enough to care for him. Gordon died peacefully in his home on February 20, 2012, with his family around him.
Dr. Gordon Riffel is survived by three daughters, one son, two sisters, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Steven Edward Riffel; and granddaughter, Angela.
Dr. Riffel leaves an amazing legacy of love for his God, family, friends, and country. He is at peace now in Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane, WA, beside his beloved Adeline, awaiting the soon return of his Lord and Savior.
There will be a memorial service for Dr. Riffel on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Central Seventh SDA Church, 828 W. Spofford Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Riffel requested donations be made to Hope Channel--Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan, MO
At the age of 12, his family of five was captured by the Japanese and interred in a total of five different prison camps for the next 33 months. Miraculously, with the aid of the paratroopers of the 511 Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the entire family was rescued on February 23, 1945, the very day that the Japanese were scheduled to execute all 2,000-plus prisoners in the Los Banos prison camp.
After returning home to the Northwest, Gordon caught up quickly with his studies and graduated from Walla Walla College Academy in 1947. He also graduated from Walla Walla College in 1951 with a BA degree in Biology, as well as minors in Chemistry and Theology. Prior to heading to California for medical school, he proposed to the beautiful and talented Adeline Roehl. Fortunately, she said yes and they were married on June 12, 1952. Over the next seven years, five children were born.
Gordon was granted his M.D. degree from the College of Medical Evangelists (now known as Loma Linda University Medical School) in 1955. He did a year internship in Portland and two years in Ulm, Germany as a Captain in the United States Army, before settling in the Bourbon-Sullivan, MO area, where he would practice family medicine for the next 39 years.
Without a local hospital in those early years and holding office hours in both Cuba and Bourbon, life was more than hectic. Dr. Riffel would drive to Rolla and Jefferson City to deliver babies and admit patients to the hospital. This necessitated an arrangement with the local sheriff’s office where he was sworn in as a deputy sheriff; giving him permission to install red lights in the high beams of his vehicle.
Being the only doctor in the small town and one of the few in the area meant that the doctor was on call 24/7. In 1962 Sullivan opened a hospital, but the new challenge was that local doctors had to cover the emergency room. Countless times Dr. Riffel would have to leave a waiting room full of patients while he rushed to the ER. Fortunately, his patients loved him and would wait for his return.
Over the years, Dr. Riffel delivered more than 3,000 babies, including a set of Siamese twins. He performed countless surgeries, doing C-sections, hernia repairs, appendectomies, tonsillectomies, carpal tunnels, casting and bone sets. He taught surgeons how to do surgery. He did orthopedics and some plastic surgery.
He was inventive, resourceful, and creative: even reattaching digits and tendons. When a patient asked him to take out her gallbladder, he told her he didn’t do that. She would not take no for an answer, so he enlisted the assistance of a local surgeon. And he made house calls; lots of them. They just don’t make doctors like that anymore!
Dr. Riffel was an active, participating member of the Bourbon Seventh Day Adventist Church where he taught a weekly Sabbath School class. He was an elder and regularly took his turn in the pulpit, as well as serving on various local, conference, and union committees and boards.
The Riffels retired in 1998, moving to Spokane, WA, to be near several of their children. Gordon was again active in his local church and volunteered for various area ministries. He focused on his family, joining them in many camping trips and providing them with choice garden produce. He also loved waterskiing and bicycling.
Adeline had serious health issues and Gordon was her faithful companion and caregiver. After her death in May of 2010, Gordon fulfilled his dream of a road trip back East to see many of Adeline’s relatives and his friends in Missouri. He drove 4,400 miles alone at the age of 80 and returned back to Spokane rejuvenated and energized just ahead of the snow in November, 2010.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia the following February. He fought this illness with brave courage; sharing joy, encouragement, and contagious faith with hospital, cancer clinic, and hospice staff. He was a favorite of all fortunate enough to care for him. Gordon died peacefully in his home on February 20, 2012, with his family around him.
Dr. Gordon Riffel is survived by three daughters, one son, two sisters, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Steven Edward Riffel; and granddaughter, Angela.
Dr. Riffel leaves an amazing legacy of love for his God, family, friends, and country. He is at peace now in Greenwood Cemetery in Spokane, WA, beside his beloved Adeline, awaiting the soon return of his Lord and Savior.
There will be a memorial service for Dr. Riffel on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Spokane Central Seventh SDA Church, 828 W. Spofford Ave., Spokane, WA 99205.
In lieu of flowers, Dr. Riffel requested donations be made to Hope Channel--Sullivan Independent News, Sullivan, MO
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