Dennis “Buddy” Ohligschlager
April 30, 1942 – February 13, 2026

Dennis “Buddy” Ohligschlager was born on April 30, 1942, in Iowa. He grew up in Southern California, but in 1975 he made a decision that would define the rest of his life. He moved his young family to Humboldt County in search of something quieter, cleaner and more intentional — a place away from the rush of city life, where he could raise his children surrounded by redwoods, rivers and community.

That choice said everything about who he was.

Dennis spent his career as a social worker, first in Los Angeles County and later in Humboldt County, where he worked in Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services. This was not just a job to him — it was his calling. He took the work personally. He answered late-night phone calls and weekend emergencies without hesitation. He believed people mattered, especially the most vulnerable, and he quietly helped more individuals and families than most will ever know.

The phone ringing late at night was a constant in our home. But so was his steady presence as a father. No matter how tired he was, he showed up — helping with homework, offering advice, or simply sitting nearby to make sure we felt supported. Long before dozens of children would know him by his nickname, he was simply Dad — steady and there.

After retiring from the county, Dennis stepped fully into the name so many would come to know him by. Together with his wife, Janet, he opened a daycare — originally to help raise their grandson. It quickly became much more than that. Dozens of children passed through their doors over the years, and all of them adored “Buddy.” He was the fun one. The one who pulled kids in a bright red wagon through Highland Park — once even making the local paper. The one who got down on his hands and knees to play. The one who made time.

As his grandchildren grew, Buddy became their chauffeur, their loudest fan and a constant presence. He rarely missed a game or event, and his grandchildren’s friends remember him just as fondly as family does. In many ways, Buddy became part of the landscape of childhood for an entire circle of families.

Dennis was remarkably smart — the kind of person who seemed to know something about almost everything. He had a wicked sense of humor and a quick wit that could catch you off guard. He loved riding his bike to work, walking miles each day, and spending time near the Trinity River. He appreciated Humboldt’s beauty and lived in it fully.

In his later years, life changed in ways that were not always easy. Like many families, ours experienced seasons that were complicated and human. But the decades he spent showing up — for his family, for children in his care and for vulnerable members of this community — remain the truest measure of his life.

On February 13, 2026, Dennis was tragically killed by a vehicle while out on one of his long walks — still active, still moving through the community he chose so many years ago.

He is survived by his wife, Janet Ohligschlager; his children, Dennis Ohligschlager and Christina Taylor (Troy Taylor); his grandchildren, Audrey Dart, Cameron Dart and Drake Ohligschlager; many step-grandchildren; and countless others who knew him simply as Buddy.

There will never be another quite like him.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Buddy Ohligschlager’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.