RIEKENA, J. W. 1840-1933

RIEKENA, BEVING

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/30/2015 at 12:05:36

J. W. Riekena, Grundy Pioneer, Died Saturday

J. W. Riekena, who had been a continuous resident of Grundy county for 68 years, died at his home in Wellsburg about two o'clock Saturday morning. He was taken quite seriously sick at eleven o'clock at night. The doctor was called and after an examination he told the family that the end was but a matter of a few hours. Mr. Riekena's decline had been gradual during the past two years and he was out of the house but little during that time. He was 92 years old on the 19th of last December. He was not sick at any time but as his years advanced past ninety he passed into a gradual decline until the body was worn out and the spirit passed into the beyond.

Funeral services were held at the home Tuesday afternoon and later at the Reformed church with the local pastor, Rev. Landsiedel, in charge. There was a very large attendance at the church service. Burial was in the family lot in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Mr. Riekena was born in Larrelt, Eastfriesland, Germany. He came to this country with his folks in October, 1865. The family located on a farm in Shiloh township. The Geerdes and the Huisman families came here in the spring of the same year. They are the only other two families now having members living who came to this community as early as the Riekena family.

Mr. Riekena was married here to Amke Beving 62 years ago last March. The couple began housekeeping on their farm 3 1/2 miles west of Wellsburg where they remained until 1910 and where they raised their family of six sons and one daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Riekena moved to Wellsburg 23 years ago and they have been living in peace and retirement here ever since. Mrs. Riekena is in her 88th year and she has been able to take care of her daily household duties.

Of the family of seven children, six are living. One of the sons, Dick, died four years ago. The surviving children are Wiert, Treno and Evert, who live in this township, Fred from Monroe, S.D., and Ben, whose home is in Montana. The daughter, Anna, has made her home continually with her father and mother. The son Fred arrived here Monday for the funeral, but Ben sent a message from Montana that he was unable to come.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 1 June 1933, pg 3