Leroy Rieke

Leroy Edward Charles Rieke, 85-year-old resident of Hillman, MN died Wednesday, February 22 surrounded by his family. Funeral service will be at 11 AM on Monday, February 27 at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Hillman. A visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 P.M. on Sunday at Emblom Brenny Funeral Service in Pierz and from 10:00-11:00 A.M. on Monday at the church.

Leroy was born February 28, 1931, near Hillman, Minnesota to the late Charles and Catherine Rieke, on the family farm where he remained his entire life. He attended rural country school and later was united in marriage to Marion Schultz January 5, 1956 in Sisseton, South Dakota. The couple made their home in the Hillman area on a successful dairy farm. He was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church and active in many of its programs. Leroy was a member of the Church Council, Club of the Pines, Adult Leisure Club, and the Two-Cylinder Club. He served on the Pine Tree Cemetery Board as well as the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery Board. He was very involved with the construction of the Club of the Pines building and the former church parish house. He enjoyed being a part of the Thursday morning church lawn mowing group. In addition to running the dairy farm, Leroy took pride in operating the family sawmill for many years. He spent many hours in his shop restoring tractors and a couple crawlers, creating inventive items from scrap metal, and making wooden toys. He often took an original item and improved it to his specifications. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading and solving brain teasers. He maintained his vim and vigor by splitting firewood. Leroy cherished his time with family, especially the grandkids, often taking them on four-wheeler and tractor rides around the farm. He looked forward to the annual Fourth of July family reunion every year.

Leroy is survived by his wife, Marion Rieke of Hillman, MN; children, Dorene (Timothy) Monn of Savage, MN, Brad Rieke of Hillman, MN, Linda (Doug Subbert) Jones of LaCrescent, MN, Kim (Mark) Bruntmyer, Goodyear, AZ, Janet (Mike) Taylor of Hillman, MN and Scott (Amy) Rieke of Sauk Rapids, MN; brother, Norman Rieke of McMinnville, OR; many grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Charles Rieke Jr., Herman Rieke, Walter Rieke, Viola Totzke, Rita Stout, Rosemarie Reznicek, and Sylvia Schultz; granddaughter, Cathy Jones; and son-in-law, Gary Jones.