Rieke, Charles D. (1923-2006)

RIEKE, COPE, FREDERICK

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/31/2007 at 19:25:08

Charles D. Rieke
LeMars Sentinel, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Charles D. Rieke, 83, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006, at his home in Le Mars.

Charles Darwin Rieke was born June 13, 1923, in Kingsley, the son of Clifford and Ethel Irene (Cope) Rieke. Charles was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith. He attended country school through the 8th grade and later graduated from Kingsley High School in 1942. He attended tech school studying to become a welder, but was needed to return home to the family farm. Charles entered the U.S. Navy in June 1944 and served until May 1946. Upon his discharge, Charles returned to the area and worked on a combining crew harvesting grain from Kansas through the Dakotas.

Charles was united in marriage to Vivian Frederick on Dec. 10, 1950, at the First Methodist Church in Sioux City. In February 1951, Charles and Vivian moved to a farm in Reading Township where they continued to farm until retirement in 1982 when they moved to Le Mars. Even though he was retired, he continued to farm for a few more years while living in Le Mars.

Charles was a long-time member of the Seney United Methodist Church and had served his church faithfully throughout the years. Charles enjoyed spending time with his family and socializing with his coffee "buddies", friends and neighbors. He also enjoyed gardening and caring for his home.

Survivors include his wife Vivian of Le Mars; three daughters and sons-in-law: Machele and Kirk Gibson and their son Brent, Kathy and Mike Detloff and their children Melissa and Mathew, and Lisa and Mike Eisma and their children Justin, Jordan, and Jessica, all of Le Mars; other close family members, Evelyn Cope of Moultrie, Ga., and Virginia Warner of Weatherby Lake, Mo.; in-laws, Mary Ann Thew of Lincoln, Neb., and Wes Frederick of Freemont, Neb.; and several cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Ethel Irene (Cope) Rieke; and two sisters: Phyllis G. Rieke as a toddler and Donna Beth Millican.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Seney United Methodist Church in Seney, with the Rev. Jason Larson officiating. Interment with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 of Le Mars will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, rural Le Mars. Visitations will be after 3 p.m. Thursday, at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the family present to greet friends after 5 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

Pallbearers will be Lowell Klemme, Jack Rawson, Jerry Rawson, Dick Kurth, Ronnie Kallsen, David Vander Hamm, and William Osborne. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Buss, Herman Schulz, and Clifford Perry.