Lavern Rieks, 96, of Alden, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at
his rural Alden farm. Memorial services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, March
11, 2023, at the Counsell Woodley Funeral Home in Iowa Falls. He will be
laid to rest with military honors at the Alden Cemetery. Visitation will
be from 1:00 PM until service time on Saturday, March 11 at the funeral
home. Counsell Woodley Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iowa
Falls is caring for Lavern and his family.
Lavern W. Rieks,
son of Chris H. and Esther (Tintjer) Rieks, was born May 25, 1926, in
Burdette, Iowa. He attended country school and was a farmer and
carpenter his entire life. Lavern served in the United States Army from
1951-1953, as a tank driver on the front lines during the Korean
Conflict.
On July 2, 1962, he was united into marriage to
Shirley Hepperle in Blue Earth Minnesota. On June 19, 1994, they renewed
their vows within the catholic faith at St. Mark Catholic Church in Iowa
Falls. Lavern and Shirley were proud of their nearly 50 years of
marriage, their children and their families. They both enjoyed farm life
and later wintering in Southern Texas making lifelong friends.
Lavern Rieks is survived by his daughter, Karen (Don) Eldridge and her
children, Diana (Robert) Carpenter of Webster City, David Hanus of Otho,
Dwight (Amy) Hanus of Fort Dodge, Daniel (Penny) Hanus of Buford,
Georgia; his son, Christopher (Carolyn) Rieks of Alden and his children,
Christa (Michael) Henry of Iowa Falls, Curtis Rieks, Conner Rieks, both
of Alden; his daughter, Kathryn Rieks of Cresco and her son, Logan
Rieks of Chadron, Nebraska; great-grandchildren: Mitch (Chelsie)
Carpenter, Tyler Carpenter, Ashley (Thomas) Throntveit, Jacob (Abby)
Hanus, Morgan (Jacob) Ladlie, Mackenzie Hanus, Madison Hanus, David
Henry, Owen Henry and Benjamin Henry; great-great-grandchildren: Luke
Carpenter, Claire Carpenter, Blair Throntveit, Savannah Throntveit, Ayla
Ladlie, Brinley Ladlie and Joseph Hanus; sisters, Shirley Rotgers of
Eldora and Marian Hazelwood, Lincoln, Nebraska; brother in- Law, James
(Betty) Hepperle of Fort Dodge and sister in-law, Kathryn Yetmar of
Clare. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley (November 21,
2011); parents; brothers, Maynard and John; great-twin-grandsons,
Matthew and Mark Carpenter; nephews, Kevin Rotgers, Todd Hazelwood;
nieces, Retha Rotgers Adams and Nancy Hazelwood.