Ileen Lois Rieck

ILEEN LOIS RIECK, age 89, of Waseca, died on Sunday, January 14, 2024, at Timberdale Trace Memory Care in Owatonna.

Born on October 9, 1934, in Waseca, she was born to Walter and Gertrude (Scholljegerdes) Voss. Ileen attended Steele County country school and Owatonna High School. On January 10, 1953, Ileen was united in marriage to Henry Rieck at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Meriden. Together they made their home on the farm where they raised seven children. Ileen worked alongside her husband on their dairy farm until they sold their cows in 1987. They then crop farmed together until their retirement. Together they shared their love of roller-skating, square dancing, attending state and county fairs, and playing games, especially cards. In retirement they enjoyed traveling to visit friends and family, going on farm tours, and wintering in Arizona. Ileen and Henry shared 61 years of marriage before Henry passed away in 2014.

Ileen was a faithful member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Meriden where she was their passionate leader of Sew Happy Quilters for over 20 years and was active with Hope Circle. She was an involved mom of the Woodville Hustlers 4-H Club, and her Happy Hour Club (never anything stronger than coffee) which she enjoyed for 60 years. Ileen enjoyed quilting, sewing, gardening, cooking, baking, and reading and collecting recipes. She loved to read how-to books and magazines of various topics and share articles with her children and grandchildren. Above all else, Ileen loved children and holding babies. She cherished her time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Ileen is survived by her children: Perry (Cindy) Rieck of Waseca, Julie (Doug) Bartelt of Waseca, Valerie (Robert) Bartelt of Ellendale, Melonie Rieck of Anchorage, Alaska, Betty (Joel) Weber of Waseca, Casey (Valerie) Rieck of Stewartville, and Christie (Bill) Hayes of Shakopee; grandchildren: Thom (Katie) Rieck, Katherine Rieck, Sam (Janet) Bartelt, Steph Bartelt, Noah (Tracy) Bartelt, Neil Bartelt, Janelle (Corey Schomaker) Bartelt, Michael (Jennifer) Bartelt, Jon (Kristine) Weber, Melissa Gilmore, Christopher (Kristin) Weber, Megan (James) Flintrop, Michael Miller, Sarah (San) Syhakhoun, Charlie Hayes, and Courtney (Tim) Burton; great grandchildren: Luke, Leah, Ella, Brooke, Claire, Olivia, Violet, Bradley, Camdyn, Adelynn, Elijah, Ezekiel, Emma, Adrian, Henry, Emery, Wallace, Eileen, Leo, Joseph, Celia, Briony, and Gwen; sister June Voss Hanson of Owatonna; other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandsons Howie Hayes and Nicholas Bartelt; five great grandsons; sister and brother-in-law Lois and Donald Sotebeer; son-in-law Tom Fondell; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Lillian and Loren Abbe; and nephew Randy Abbe.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the State Street Chapel of Dennis-Steffel-Omtvedt Funeral & Cremation Service. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 AM on Friday, January 19, 2024, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Meriden with Pastor Billy Jo Wicks, officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

Memorials are preferred to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Meriden or charity of donors choice.

Ileen’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Ecumen Hospice and the staff at Timberdale Trace for the wonderful care their mother received.