Richard Macklin Obituary

 Richard Scott “Rick” “Mac” Macklin, 69, passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at Pleasant Valley Memory Care in Modesto, California, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. 

Rick was born on May 4, 1956, in Salem Oregon, to Wendoll and Evie (Iwana) Macklin. In 1963, his family moved from Oregon to Gustine, California, when his father began working on the San Luis Reservoir near Santa Nella. The Macklins were the first family to water ski on the Forebay. Rick attended Gustine schools and graduated with the Class of 1974.

On August 21, 1976, Rick married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, Annette (Mattos). They were married for 49 wonderful years and lived on the same street, East Avenue, in Gustine, their entire marriage (in three different houses).

During high school, Rick worked at different gas stations in Santa Nella, and after graduation, he worked at Whitman Chevron in Gustine. In October 1974, he began his long career at Saputo Foods (formerly Avoset), where he worked for 41 years until his medical retirement in 2015. During the 1970s and 1980s, he also worked part-time at Valley Bowl in Gustine.

Rick had a lifelong passion for boating and water sports, including waterskiing, kneeboarding, tubing, wakeboarding, and even barefoot waterskiing. He was well-known for spending countless hours teaching family and friends how to ski, kneeboard and wakeboard. His favorite place to be was at Lake Shasta, where he rented a houseboat with his family and friends every year for over 20 years.

He also loved camping, fishing, frogging, and riding quads at Pismo Beach with family and friends. But his greatest joy in life was watching his daughter and granddaughters play sports He was their biggest fan and attended as many games as possible-when he couldn’t be there in person, he cheered them on through Gamechanger.

Before retirement, Rick enjoyed bowling and playing slow-pitch softball. For more then 15 years, he also brought smiles to countless faces by dressing up as Santa Claus for the annual Castaneda, Gomez, and Kinsfater family Christmas party.

Rick was a former member of the San Luis Water Ski Club, where he competed on the Slalom course and won numerous awards. He began waterskiing at the age of five and even took part in Polar Bear Skiing-hitting the water every January 1st without a wetsuit! Rick was a member of the Hills Ferry “CB” Club as well as a proud member of the Our Lady of Miracles Society.

He is survived by his loving wife, Annette Macklin of Gustine; daughter, Renee Wright of Delhi; granddaughters; Paige Olivia and Piper Evie Wright of Delhi; brothers; Ron Macklin of Gustine and Jim Macklin (Debbie) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Wendoll and Evie (Iwana) Macklin; his in-laws, Albert (Bert) and Olivia Mattos and his brother, Ken Macklin.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00pm to 6:30pm on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Hillview Funeral Chapels in Gustine. Another Visitation will also be held from 10:00am to 11:00am followed by a Memorial service at 11:00am on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Hillview Funeral Chapels in Gustine.

Family prefers donations be made in Rick’s name to the VFW or American Legion Auxiliaries, 145 5th Street, Gustine, CA 95322 or to your favorite charity.

Services conducted by Hillview Funeral Chapel, Gustine.