Frances 'Luree' (Carney) Riha, 22 Nov 1932 - 02 Jan 2019

RIHA, CARNEY, SEPTER, DELLAMUTH, ROHACH, COSELMAN, GILLITZER, EVEN, OLSON, HOLLAND

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/14/2020 at 14:32:00

Frances "Luree" Riha, 86, of Vining, passed away on Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at Belle Plaine Specialty Care under the care of Essence of Life Hospice. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 7, 2019 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Father Michael Mescher and Deacon Joe Behounek officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in rural Vining. Visitation will be held Sunday, January 6, 2019 from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with a vigil service at 7 PM followed by the Rosary.

Luree was born November 22, 1932 in the Victor, Iowa area, the daughter of Patrick and Verla (Septer) Carney. The oldest of five children, she enjoyed growing up with four brothers. The family moved to the Marengo area where she started elementary school and then moved to a farm in the Montezuma area where she attended country school. The family bought and moved to a farm outside of Millersburg in 1943 where she continued her education, graduating from high school in 1951. During her schooling years, she participated in 4-H for several years, played clarinet in high school band, and played guard on the Millersburg High School varsity 6 on 6 girls' basketball team. She also enjoyed the activities and dances sponsored by the local and area Catholic Youth Organization (CYO).

After graduating High School, she attended Practical Nurse's Training at Mercy Hospital of Nursing in Iowa City. She then worked at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids before moving on to the Watts Hospital in Marengo.

On May 10, 1955, she married Paul Riha at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Millersburg. They started married life living in Vining, Iowa where Paul was involved in the family Ford Auto Dealership, Riha Auto Sales. During Luree's early years of married life she sold Avon products around the Vining and Tama area. She was very involved at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining, including the Foresters, church council, and many other church-related activities. She was also involved in the Vining annual Kolache Festival, and other community monthly and annual activities. She enjoyed baking, cooking, and hosting all of the family gatherings. She also enjoyed volunteering for many of her children's school events and attending her grandchildren's events.

She enjoyed dancing her entire life well into her later years. She taught her brothers how to dance and they would go dancing every week at Dayton Hall. Luree and Paul went dancing often, and passed that love of dance onto her children. Over the years, she maintained a close relationship with five special classmates and they would get together often. Luree had many friends and made more wherever she went. She brightened the lives of everyone who knew her.

She is survived by her husband of sixty three years, Paul of Vining; three daughters, Angie (Kerry) Dellamuth of Belle Plaine, Paula (Larry) Rohach of Toledo, and Janine (Brent) Coselman of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren, Michelle (Adam) Gillitzer, Marcie (James) Even, Marc (Halie) Dellamuth, Alexa Rohach, Jadelyn Rohach, Rihanna Coselman, and Peyton Coselman; four great-grandchildren, Jaylea, Mazden, and Ellarie Even, and Cora Dellamuth; two brothers, Gerald (Joyce) Carney of Ames, and Melvin (Barb) Carney of Shawnee Mission, KS; one sister-in-law, Janice (Jerry) Olson; many nieces and nephews; and an "adopted daughter", Amy Holland of Belle Plaine.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sons, Monte Lynn, Gregory Allen, Francis Paul, and Ronald Edward; four brothers, Luverne Carney, Michael (Mick) Carney, Patrick who died at birth, and James at age six.

A memorial fund will be established.

Published in The Gazette on January 5, 2019