Eugene Harold Rieck

Gene Rieck was born in 1928 in Primrose, NE and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, July 31, 2018 at Life Care Center in Elkhorn. He was just shy of his 90th Birthday. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Albert and Irene Rieck; daughter, Debbie Rieck; brothers Ronald, Delaine and Dennis Rieck and son-in-law, Jim Mitchell. Gene is survived by: his wife of almost 65 years, Margie of Elkhorn; daughters, Denice Mitchell (Mark Lee) of Yutan, Doreen (Dan) McMahon and Dena (Brandon) Johnson both of Elkhorn; sister, Dorothy Young of Albion, NE and sister-in-law, Diane Rieck of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Gene grew up in Boone County, Nebraska where he graduated from Primrose High in 1946. He always told us he was in the top 10 of his class – there were 9 classmates! Gene was very independent and helped take care of his family on the farm. Gene joined the Army in 1950 and was stationed in Korea. He often talked about his time in Korea and was very proud of his service. He had corresponded with Margie Saathoff while in Korea. When he came home from Korea in 1952 he looked her up. They were married at Zion Lutheran Church in Albion, NE in 1953. Life took them to Elkhorn where they began their married life. Then they moved to Albion where their first daughter, Debbie was born in 1954. Gene and Margie moved back to Elkhorn and that’s where they’ve made their home ever since. Denice was born in 1957, Doreen in 1959 and Dena in 1961. Gene drove straight truck and then semi-truck for Walnut Grove Products for more than 35 years and retired in 1991. He met many lifelong friends during his career and he always had a story or a joke to share. Gene was actively involved in his community and served on the Elkhorn Volunteer Fire Rescue for 30+ years. The family remembers enjoying the firemen's picnics and the annual firemen's dance. Tragedy struck the family in 1980 when Debbie was killed in an auto accident while on vacation in Sacramento, CA. It was a difficult time for the whole family. Gene and Marge and their family loved camping with their friends. Many weekends were spent at various lakes with Voss', Sachs', Sass', Fedde's and all their children. We even experienced an earthquake at Branched Oak Lake in 1986. Gene took his family on annual vacations. Memories were made in Detroit Lakes, MN, camping in the Colorado Mountains, a 2 week tour of Nebraska, traveling to Canada and Mexico, Disneyland in California and camping in the mountains of Oregon. Once the girls were grown, Gene and Marge enjoyed traveling in their motorhome with Kenny and Donna Fedde and also traveled the United States with Bob and Mary Ann Hadan. They loved traveling and were saddened when a brain aneurysm in 1992 ended their motorhome travels. The doctors said he had a 1 to 2% chance of surviving and he showed us how strong he was. He knew there were grandchildren to play with yet. Gene and Marge were the primary babysitters for all 7 of their grandchildren. Each of the grandchildren have special memories of time spent with Grandpa. He will be greatly missed but we were blessed to have him for this long. Grandchildren: Andrew (Susy) Rieck, Tina Peacock (Tim Eisenhauer), Damon McMahon, Tracy Boroff (Tony White), Travis Boroff, Taylor (Bryan) Daily and Stacy McMahon (Justin Kolb). Great-grandchildren: Derek and Elena Rieck; Nash, Kinkade & Tyrus Peacock, Timothy Eisenhauer, Tyler and Nico White, Zane and Eden Daily, Haley Mata and Tyler Kolb.

Eugene Harold Rieck

August 11, 1928 - July 31, 2018