RIEKENS, John 1870-1936

RIEKENS, TJADEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/21/2017 at 16:50:26

John Riekens

John Riekens, son of R. D. and Elke Riekens, was born January 4, 1870, in German township, Grundy county, Iowa. In infancy he received the rite of Holy Baptism, and since he had Christian parents they reared him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

On March 3, 1897, he was married to Martha Rebecca Tjaden. One daughter was born to them, Ella, the wife of Ray Toomsen.

John Riekens early became an active member of St. Peter's Evangelical church. He held several responsible offices on the board of his church. He was respected and held in high esteem by all who knew him. In the last few years he was unable to attend his church to worship there with his fellow Christians because of his sickness.

Many years ago he contracted the dreaded disease asthma. In vain did he look for a cure. He tried many doctors and remedies. Some of the remedies did help him for a time, but as time went on these no longer had the desired effect. On February 15, 1928, no longer being able to take care of his work on the farm, he retired and moved to Wellsburg, Ia. The last few years of Mr. Riekens' life were an agony and misery. He suffered intensely. Only those who visited him and those near and dear to him, can have the faintest idea of his sufferings. His dear wife and family did all they could for him. We have a fine example of the love of a wife for her husband in Mrs. Riekens. Oh, how many and long were the sleepless nights that she passed with her husband in order to alleviate his sufferings.

During this time and to the very last his only source of real joy and comfort was the word of God. Like Job of old, even in his sufferings, he knew that his redeemer lived and that some day he should live with him in glory. John Riekens loved and knew God's Word and he held fast to God's promise.

On Friday, November 13, at about three o'clock, his sufferings came to an end. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth. We sincerely hope that his trust and faith in the Lord may have prevailed unto the end.

The funeral was held at the St. Peter's Evangelical church with the pastor, the Rev. G. Hesse, in charge of the service. He was assisted by Rev. Wm. Landsiedel and Rev. J. C. DeKorne. Burial was made in the cemetery of the church.

The funeral was well attended, the deceased being an old time resident of German township, and much respected by all who knew him.

The pallbearers were all nephews of the deceased and were as follows: Martin Meinders, Hank Riekens, Raymond Riekens, Lester Riekens, Harry Riekens and Irvin Riekens.

Those who mourn him are his faithful widow, his daughter Ella and husband, Ray Toomsen, his granddaughter, Vivolyn, and his brothers, Dick and Jake Riekens, his sister Fannie and a host of nephews and nieces and many other relatives.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 November 1936, pg 12