Elijah River Ogrisseg

Elijah River Ogrisseg

December 3, 2000 – November 19, 2025.

With devastating sadness and broken hearts, we announce the passing of Elijah River Ogrisseg, a beloved son, brother, cousin, and friend. Elijah was born in Spokane, Washington as a blessing and the first-born Son to Jerry and Zeny Ogrisseg. He grew up for the first ten years of his life in Spokane, where he had boundless energy and brought immense joy and laughter to everyone he encountered. Elijah was always quick-witted and prone to having hilarious expressions. For example, when his little brother Spencer was born his first reaction was, “He’s cute. He can stay outside.” In spite of that, he quickly became a doting and protective big brother, and we would frequently find him explaining the world and his observations to Spencer, who was his constant playmate. Elijah and Spencer were blessed to grow up with three amazing cousins, Joellen, Lauren, and Kelsey Doyl, who they had adventures with nearly every day in the summertime, and as often as his Mom could arrange at all times of the year. They were inseparable, and the volume level would be deafening with laughter when they were together.

Among Elijah’s favorite activities with them were the hikes his Mom would take them on to the Spokane River, the inspiration for Elijah’s middle name. They would go to what Elijah called “the big rock” and catch cray fish or splash in the water with his Great Dane “Daka”. This was so special to him, that in the days before his passing, he would make this hike every day to the big rock to reminisce and dream of his whole extended family uniting in Spokane again one day. In the wintertime, Elijah, Spencer, and the girls would go sled riding or get pulled down the street on his sled by Daka, which brought smiles to everyone passing by.

By far though, Elijah’s favorite pastime was skiing. He started to ski at the age of 3, and then skied every year and every weekend during ski season with his Dad and Spencer at 49 degrees North until he moved away to Hawaii at the age of 10. These bonding experiences between father and sons were filled with joy, far reaching discussions about life or whatever was on Elijah’s mind, and of course pizza, Jo Jo potatoes, and hot chocolate afterwards.

Because Elijah always wanted to protect his family and friends, his Mom enrolled him and her in Tae Kwon Do classes at Jung Kim Martial Arts at the age of 5. Both of them and his little brother went on to earn their black belts. Elijah was a reassuring presence for other parents in the neighborhood because of the confidence he exuded and his way of positively influencing other kids.

Elijah moved away to Hawaii with his family at the age of 10 where he learned to surf from his Hawaiian “Uncle”, Mr. Layne Fitzpatrick. In the first weeks after moving, he and his little brother changed his neighborhood culture from being quiet to being loud, joyous, and outside, as they all started playing 4-square, skateboarding, hiking into the forest and down to the creek, and catching Hawaiian lizards.

When Elijah was 11, his little sister Tara was born. From the moment of her birth, his loving and protective instincts were in full bloom. He was such a proud big brother and was never far away from her when she was little. After discovering that Jackson Chameleons lived in the forest behind his house, he would take Tara out at night with flashlights and his head lamp to spot them and catch them. They never got shut out in this adventure and always would catch at least one, but on some nights caught five or six. Elijah and Tara would play with them and allow them to crawl on their shirts for an hour or so before releasing them back into the wild. Elijah also taught Tara how to catch anole lizards and geckos during the daytime, an activity which she still continues to this day.

Elijah made so many friends in Hawaii, while also keeping up over the years with his friends in Spokane. Elijah was always fiercely loyal to his friends and family. He had a way of bringing people together, and also a way of bringing people who were shy or reserved into his orbit and getting them out of their shells. Just prior to his passing, he spoke often of his core value of “community”. He maintained contact with many communities including friends from elementary through high school in both Hawaii and Spokane, his paddling team at Mililani High School, his cousins, aunts, and uncles from around the world, and his grandparents from both sides of the family. He would drop what he was doing at any hour of the day to help a friend in need.

His first role though in being a helper was as his Dad’s right-hand man. At the age of 3, as his Dad was building a large and unique treehouse for Elijah and Spencer, he would bring cold water to his Dad every day and was persistent about wanting to help more until his Dad finally caved and carried him up the ladder to be able to hand him tools, nails, and screws. A couple years later when he was 5, he worked from dawn to dusk for two days straight in helping his Dad make a large brick patio. From these experiences, the seeds were planted for Elijah’s passion for working with his hands and working with power tools. His skills eventually surpassed his Dad’s, to the point where he would trust Elijah before himself to do jobs around the house from carpentry to electric to plumbing work, you name it. In the year before his passing, he was given the option to take another trip to Europe, or to come back to Spokane to help his Dad on a big project on his ancestral house, and he chose to come help his Dad. That’s the kind of Son he was.

Elijah’s many communities of friends and family will all undoubtedly be heartbroken to hear of his passing. While he will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him, including the family dog “Doug” and his cat “Tony”, we are reassured by conversations with his Uncle, Pastor Ron Doyl, who spent the most time with Elijah during his final weeks after he moved back to Spokane, that he had the Lord in his heart when died, and that he is in peace and with the Lord now.

Services will be held at Riplinger Funeral Home at 4305 N. Division St, Spokane, WA 99207. His viewing hours will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., immediately followed by his memorial service and sharing to celebrate Elijah’s life from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. with a brief reception to follow.