Richard B. Tangeman D.V.M.
May 28th 2014, marked the passing of Richard B. Tangeman (Doc), just four days shy of his 94th birthday. His devoted daughter Susan Tangeman was at his side in Redding, California.
Richard was born June 1 1920, to a citrus farming family in San Dimas, California. He developed his love of animals while driving his donkeys Buster and Hercules through the orchards helping his family. He and his brother Jim worked on their Model T Ford truck, which they used on the farm, as well. He graduated from Bonita High School in 1939 and attended Chaffie College. Like many others, his education was interrupted by WWII. Richard worked in the Lockheed aircraft factory supporting the war effort stateside. In the early 1940’s, he and his trusty Model T Ford pickup transported the mail between Bridgeport and Bishop during the winter thru snowdrifts and bitterly cold weather. During the summer, he worked at the Hunnewell packstation guiding dudes to fishing spots all over the eastern Sierra Nevada range. Some of Richard’s fondest memories were of his time in this part of California.
In 1944, he started his veterinary education at Kansas State University, later transferring to Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado where he finished his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1948.
Upon graduation, he returned to Southern California, to open a veterinary practice in Pomona. He married Phyllis Marchant and his one son, Rick Tangeman, was born in 1950. His new family moved to Susanville in 1952, “the winter of the deep snow”. This marriage dissolved.
Once in Lassen County, he purchased the practice of Dr. Worrell in Johnstonville, California, where he worked throughout eastern Nevada, Modoc county, Plumas county, Shasta county, and Lassen county. It was not unusual for him to drive 50,000 to 100,000 miles a year doing his calls without the benefit of mobile phones or cruise control. Working long hours was the norm with clients in the livestock industry whom he considered his dear friends. Doc mentored many young people in their interest of veterinary medicine through a long standing relationship with the UC Davis Veterinary School where students had summer internships at the ranch and his local clinic. He had devoted clinic support staff in Mrs. Worrell, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hoffman, and Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kelly whom he considered his close friends. He retired from veterinary medicine in 1996 with over 46 years of devoted service to his community.
He married Phyllis Boyle Tangeman in 1959, having his two daughters, Hannah and Susan. The family moved to Phyllis’s family ranch on Wingfield road where he was at home with his saddle horses and driving his Standardbred horses, rescued from the track, with buggies in the summer and sleighs in the snow. He would use the tractor to construct a sled run each winter for his daughters who spent many hours flying down its slopes.
Doc was community minded. He joined the Lassen County Sherriff’s Posse, he becoming their captain. He was appointed to the California State Board of Veterinary Examiners. He was also a member of the Lassen County Cattleman’s Association serving as their president. Believing that education was important, he was elected to the Lassen Union High School Board and held the post of President. Richard enjoyed serving as the veterinarian for Lassen County Fair for over 20 years.
In his retirement years, he married Lois Lewis, and they lived in Janesville, later moving to Eagle Lake Village.
Doc was always passionate about California history and loved reading Mark Twain. He was a docent at the Lassen Historical Society Museum for a number a years volunteering weekly.
Doc was pre-ceded in death by his parents Walter and Elvira Tangeman, his wife Phyllis Boyle Tangeman, and his wife Lois Tangeman. He is survived by his sister Shirley Stamper of Wheatridge Colorado, brother Jim (Marian)Tangeman of Oroville, his son Rick (Pat) Tangeman of Sherwood, Oregon, and grandson Dr. Kevin (Brittany) Tangeman of Silverton Oregon, daughter Hannah Tangeman (Jason Cheney) Susanville, California and grandson David (Jessica) Cheney of Susanville, and daughter Dr. Susan Tangeman of Susanville, California. His daughter Susan and grandson Kevin followed in his footsteps as veterinarians. Donations in his memory can be made Lassen County Historical Society PO Box 321 Susanville CA 96130.
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