Richard Dean Rackleff

Richard departed this life on August 6, 2025, to live eternally with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ after a long bout with Metastatic Prostrate Cancer and ATTR Cardiac Amyloidosis.

The beloved Husband of Sandi (Ulrich), known affectionately by the family as Grammi Sandi, Gainesville, GA. Father to Kelli (Chris) Bray, Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Ga; Kerri Mulik, Banner Elk, N.C: and Kevin (Ashley) Rackleff, Statesboro, GA; Survived by their mother, Dee Dee Rackleff, Summerville, S.C.

Grandfather to C. J. (Haley) Bray; Appling, GA; Maggie (Dalton) Reindollar, Augusta, GA; Layne (Bailey) Brown; Brooklet, GA; Tate (Eliza-fiance), Rackleff, Bluffton, S.C., & Ames Rackleff, Statesboro, Ga; Twins, Weston & Jolee Mulik, Summerville, S.C., and two great grandchildren, Baker Brown and Elle Reindollar with two more on the way.

Survivors include his beloved sister, Donna Jean Waltrip; Southport CT. & Naples, FL; nieces, Karen (Dan) Bennewitz; Southport CT. and Naples, FL; and Janie Barber, Naples, FL; their families, Tom (Ashley) Bennewitz and Tommy; Trip Bennewitz & Kendall (Ilias) Roshi and Beatrice; Kylie (Brad) Kirch and Rhett & Chandler Barber.

Richard graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1963 with a B.S. in Engineering Physics. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the Math Club, Physics Club and elected President of the Engineers Club. He inducted into the Sigma Pi Sigma National Physics Honor Society and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Following graduation, Richard received an appointment from J. Edgar Hoover to be a Special Agent of the FBI. In June 1964. he was working a Gambling surveillance in Portland, Oregon when his 1st daughter Kelli, was born. Following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Richard was transferred to Monroe, LA where he was assigned to investigate the largest unit of the Ku Klux Klan in the U.S. He was working a church bombing in August 1966, when his 2nd daughter, Kerri,,was born. He was transferred to Atlanta to work fugitive investigations where his son, Kevin, was born in 1971. Richard qualified to serve on the 1st SWAT Team in Atlanta, where he served for 17 years as Firearms Instructor and Rappel Master.

Richard loved his work with the FBI, working special and innovative investigations. He received training in Special Photography, Aerial Surveillance Operations and Technical Operations and served as the Technical Coordinator for several years before his selection as the 1st Undercover Agent in a criminal investigation. He infiltrated an international theft ring involved in the thefts of heavy equipment being transported to Central America. Richard was later selected to be the first Aircraft Operations Coordinator in Atlanta and flew over 700 hours of aerial surveillance with SA Al Brown, a former Navy pilot and certified flight instructor.

In April 1979, Richard was selected for training at the Department of Defense Polygraph Laboratory and served as a Forensic Credibility Examiner in Atlanta and Knoxville divisions. Following retirement in 1990 Richard opened Federal Polygraph Associates, LLC and was later joined by Sandi as a Special Investigator. Sandi had vast experience in law enforcement having served 12 years as a Probation Officer in Washington, DC, and as a Relief Supervisor on the FBI Drug Squad. She retired as the Assistant Regional Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering, U.S. Department of Labor. Over the last 40 years of his life, Richard developed an expertise in forensic interviews and was recognized by prominent attorneys and prosecutors throughout the United States. He had a passion for finding the truth and resolving complex investigative matters, which included the Atlanta Child Murders in 1982, the Mail Bombing of Chief Judge Charles Vance in Birmingham and the false accusations against Richard Jewell as the Olympic Park Bomber in 1996.

Richard's greatest passion was serving the Lord Jesus Christ, above all else. He served as a deacon and was elected Chairman of Elders Mount Carmel Christian Church in Stone Mountain during its 100-year anniversary in 2004. After moving to Gainesville, he continued to worship and grow in spirit at Free Chapel Church under Pastor Jentezen Franklin and was an active member of the Bible Study Fellowship Men's group in Gainesville. Richard was always ready to witness to others about the life changing power of Jesus Christ and living a life in Christ.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Chapel On McEver, 3001 McEver Rd., Gainesville, GA. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at noon with a reception following the service at the chapel.

Donations in support of Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF) in support of Type 1 Diabetes Research, www2.breakthroughT1D.org; Samaritan's Purse, Samaritanspurse.org; or the Blazer Scholarship Fund, https://square.link/u/4QcoZoH9, Atlanta Chapter FBI, will be greatly appreciated.

The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Hospice, the doctors and nurses who cared for Richard, caregiver Kristy Gilstrap, and special friends D.J. and Diana Wegesin and Harold and Linda McDougald for their care and support throughout this difficult time.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Arrangements are in the care of Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.