William F. Rieckens 1936-2015

RIECKENS, MOHLENHOFF, LIDBERG

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/10/2017 at 11:15:54

BELLEVUE, Iowa - William Rieckens, 79, of Bellevue, Iowa, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2015, at UnityPoint Health-Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa, with his family at his side.

A celebration of William's life will be planned at a later date.

William was born on March 29, 1936, in Bellevue, Iowa, to John H. and Hildeagarde (Mohlenhoff) Rieckens. He married Madonna (Cathman) on December 15, 1957, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. They were happily married for 57 years and had three children.

William attended Bellevue Community School and served in the Army Reserves for eight years. William was employed by The Milwaukee Road as a brakeman, at Clinton Engines in Maquoketa, Iowa, and John Deere Dubuque Works for most of his working years. He was a fulltime member of the United Auto Workers Local 94. He also owned and operated Rieckens Welding and Repair in Bellevue, Iowa, with his son, Fred. William held his commercial drivers license all of his life and enjoyed driving trucks for Smithson Trucking, JR Trucking and Welsh Oil.

He spent his free time working in his machine shop and collecting and restoring small antique engines, scooters and garden tractors. He enjoyed displaying his engines and tractors at many engine shows, including Old Threshers at Mount Pleasant, and was involved in the Little G Garden Tractor show in Dyersville, IA. William also had a life-long interest in railroad related items due to his time with The Milwaukee Road. A highlight of his life was riding the Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad in Durango, CO. He had a deep passion for historical preservation and dedicated much of his time to the Jackson County Historical Society and Clinton Engine Museum.

He is survived by his wife, Madonna, his son, Fredrick Rieckens, of Iowa City, IA, and his daughters, Faye (Russ) Lidberg, of St. Cloud, MN, and Lynne Rieckens, of Carlsbad, CA, as well as his five grandchildren, William Thomas Rieckens, Alyssa Rieckens, Bradley Lidberg, Jessica Lidberg and Jordan (Rieckens) Springsteen and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, John and Richard, and sister-in-law, Wilhelmena Rieckens.

William was the perfect husband, father and grandfather. He will be truly missed by all that knew him.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Dubuque for the care and compassion they provided William.

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Tuesday, March 31, 2015