Mary C. Rieck

Mary Christena Rieck of Ankeny, Iowa, passed away at Sunny View Care Center on October 10, 2016, at the age of 97. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth W. Rieck. They were married on April 21, 1940, and were together for 63 years until his death in 2003.

Mary is survived by her two sons, Douglas Kent Rieck (Dianne) and Kenneth Craig Rieck (JoyAnn). She is also survived by her grandson, Jeffrey K. Rieck (John Nash) of Chicago, and her twin granddaughters, Sheena Carew (Frederick) of Califon, NJ and Jessica Feyrer (Michael) of Long Valley, NJ. As one door closes, another door opens; Mary is survived by her 3 week old great-grandson, Frederick J. Carew V. Mary is also lovingly remembered by her many nieces and nephews.

Mary was born at High Bridge Coal Camp, Dallas County, Iowa, on April 30, 1919, to John Edwin Lindblom and Bertha May Mathis. After her mother’s early death, six year old Mary and her two older brothers, Myron and Edwin Lindblom, went to the Stanton Children’s Home for several years until moving back with her dad in Boone. She graduated from Boone High School and worked at Northwestern Bell as a switchboard operator.

“Mary and Kenny” married in 1940 and moved to their farm 4 miles north of Bondurant, where they raised their two sons. During WWII, Mary worked at the Ankeny Ordinance Plant (now John Deere) manufacturing 50 caliber shells. Mary also worked to support her family at the Ankeny Sale Barn, Bondurant Locker, and Davis Catering in Berwick.

Known for her superb cooking and award-winning apple pie, Mary often hosted family and friends. Mary was an active volunteer, serving as Chairman of the Rural Polk County American Cancer Society and volunteering at Iowa Lutheran Hospital. Mary loved to play Bridge. She helped found a “Mothers’ Club” in the early 1950’s that evolved into the Skunk River Bottom Bridge Club consisting of Mary and seven other mothers and their families. Mary was the last surviving member. Bridge kept her mind sharp; she won “high” 2 years ago playing with 4 tables.

The visitation will be held at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens at 121 NW 60th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50313 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2016. The funeral service will be at Grand View Lutheran Church, 2930 East 13th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, at 11:00 a.m. on October 19, 2016, led by Mary’s long time Pastor, Sharon Worthington. A luncheon will be held at the church following the service. Burial will be at Elkhart Cemetery following the luncheon.

Mary and Kenny followed Pastor Paul Spong from her Lutheran Church in Boone to Grand View Lutheran in Des Moines in 1947, where she has been a faithful member.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Grand View Lutheran Church.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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