Ervin "Sam" Riley 1920 - 1988

RILEY, NAPIER, JACOBA

Posted By: Viv Reeves (email)
Date: 3/11/2014 at 10:13:02

Onawa Democrat, Onawa, (Monona), Iowa, 14 Jan 1988:

ERVIN “SAM” RILEY

Ervin “Sam” Riley, Onawa, Iowa, 67 years of age, died early Wednesday, January 6, 1988, at Burgess Memorial Hospital in Onawa following a brief illness.

He was born March 15, 1920, in Belvidere Township, Monona County, Iowa, the son of John and Zilla (Napier) Riley. He was married to Geneva Jacoba January 31, 1942 at Dakota City, Nebraska. He was a maintenance man and welder for various area businesses.

Sam entered the Army branch of the military on February 7, 1942, and served in the United States and in Europe during World War II. He was discharged in 1945.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Alan (Linda) Tweedy of Blair, Nebr. and Mrs. Jim (Laurie Jo) Joy of Cushing, Ia.; a son, Leo of Onawa; a brother, Alva of Onawa; two sisters, Mrs. Nina Rush of Red Oak and Violet Allen of Palermo, Calif.; two grandsons, Donie Coleman and Christopher Riley; two granddaughters, Angie Riley and Amy Riley; and three step grandchildren, Jennifer, Jamie and Tricia Joy.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Bill, Zene, John (Jack) and Delmer (Jiggs); two sisters, Nellie Wagner and Margie Wagner Crowe; and a baby son in infancy.

I’M FREE

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free;
I’m following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard Him call;
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah, yes, these things I, too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I’ve savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief;
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now. He set me free.

Author Unknown

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 8, 1988, at the Pearson Funeral Chapel, Onawa, Iowa, with Rev. Jerry Quandt and Rev. Everett Epperson officiating. The organist, Mrs. Steve Johnson, played, “In the Garden” and “Beyond the Sunset”.

Casket bearers were Alva Riley, Leo Riley, Jim Joy, Alan Tweedy, Donie Coleman and Bill Davis.

Interment was in the Onawa Cemetery, Onawa, Iowa, with arrangements by Pearson Funeral Home, Onawa, Iowa.