Roland Wallace Riensche

GUTKNECHT, HABBEN, HARTING, LOMPE, RIENSCHE

Posted By: Cindy (email)
Date: 2/4/2022 at 20:34:32

ROLAND WALLACE RIENSCHE
March 26, 1930- June 1, 2020

Roland Wallace Riensche was born on March 26, 1930 at Jubilee, the son of Erwin John and Ida Wilhelmina Kathanna Elsa (Harting) Riensche.

He became a child of God on April 13, 1930, when his parents brought him to be baptized by Pastor William J.F. Adix at Zion Lutheran Church (Jubilee), rural La Porte City, IA. His baptismal sponsors were his Grandfather Henry Riensche and Uncle Art Harting. He was confirmed on April 18, 1943 at Zion Lutheran (Jubilee) by Pastor William C. Domres.

Roland attended Jubilee Consolidated School through tenth grade, before graduating from Jesup High School in 1947. As a young adult, Roland farmed with his parents before enlisting in the US Air Force in 1952. Following basic training in San Antonio, TX, he served as a mechanic on B50 (Superfortress) and KC97 (Stratofreighter) airplanes and was stationed in Roswell, NM, Guam, and Greenland.

Through Luther League activities, he met Arlene Gutknecht in 1952. Following completion of his service in the Air Force, Roland and Arlene were married at Zion Lutheran (Hudson) on April 2, 1956.

They started their married life in their newly remodeled farm home north of Zion Lutheran (Jubilee), where they welcomed three children: Rachel in 1958, Benjamin in 1961, and Adam in 1967. They moved to Roland’s home farm on the original Jubilee corner in 1974 and lived there until 2003 when they moved to a new home they built further west on Rickard Road.

Roland farmed with Arlene and raised corn and soybeans, as well as beef cattle and hogs. He remained actively engaged in the family farming operation until his death, and particularly enjoyed the beginning of each new farming season.

Over the years he served on the boards of Farmers State Bank, Jesup Community School, Jesup Farmers Coop, Black Hawk County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Iowa Soybean Promotion Board, and was a Fox Township Trustee and a member of the Black Hawk County Zoning Board. Roland was a life-long member of Zion Lutheran Church (Jubilee) where he served on the church council, cemetery board, and many other committees.

Together with Arlene, he enjoyed traveling to farm shows and sales, to his school board and bank board conventions, and to visit their children, grandchildren, and other family and friends around the country.

At age 90 years, 2 months, and 6 days, Roland died on Monday, June 1, 2020 in hospice care at Buchanan County Health Center in Independence following several strokes.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene Riensche, Jubilee; children Rachel Riensche, Edina, MN; and Benjamin (Lisa) Riensche, Jubilee; grandchildren Lauren (fiancé Luke Gosse) Riensche, Boston, MA; Hannah Riensche, Rochester, MN; Hans Riensche, Ames; and Faith Riensche, Jubilee; sisters Doris Lompe, Jubilee, and Lorraine Habben, Webster City; and many other relatives and friends.

Roland is preceded in death by his parents and son Adam who died in a vehicle accident in 1992.

In lieu of visitation, the family invites you to share remembrances and stories about Roland through cards and letters addressed to:

Riensche Family
P.O. Box 573
Jesup, IA 50648

or by email at:
RienscheFamily@gmail.com

White Funeral Home in Jesup, IA is in charge of arrangements.