RIEKENA, Frederika 1808-1903

RIEKENA, RYKEN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/4/2020 at 06:30:00

Death of Grandma Riekena

Frederika Riekena, nee Ryken, died in Shiloh township, Grundy county, Iowa, Monday, Feb. 16, 1903. The deceased was born in Larrelt near Emden, Ostfriesland, Germany, on Feb. 13, 1808. Grandma Riekena reached the advanced age of ninety-five years and three days.

In March, 1834, she was married to W. B. Riekena. They were blessed with seven children and all are living. They are Franke, wife of Martin Ryken, near Ackley; Gepke, wife of R. Ludewig, near German Valley, Illinois; Antje, widow of Evan Horn; Johannes, Berend, Evert, and W. W. Riekena, living in Shiloh township, where they came with their parents in the early sixty's from their old home in Germany and we may call them the oldest and best settlers in Grundy county. After living together fifty-two years, the husband and father died in September, 1886. Like the father, the good old mother lived and died in the house they built when they arrived from the old country, almost forty years.

Grandma Riekena, as she was called by everyone, was a noble woman, a good mother and grandmother, none better. She was the same good old grandma although confined to her bed most of the time for several years. In our visits made to her, we always found her young in spirit, and ready to tell of her childhood days. She received the best of care from her children, especially from Evert and family who lived close by, and who will feel the loss the most. But it will be a loss to us all for we will never see our old grandma Riekena anymore until we see her there where parting is no more.

Her funeral was held on Thursday at the Ostfriesland church in German township. Rev. H. Schmitt preached the funeral sermon.

By An Old Friend

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 February 1903, pg 9