Walter Rieck

Walter Stephenson Rieck, 77, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday, Decenber 3, 2001, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center.The son of Walter Lewis and Polly Etta (Stephenson) Rieck, Walter was born September 20, 1924 at home in Walnut, Iowa. He attended grade school and high school in Walnut graduating in 1942. He was drafted into the United States Army and reported March 17, 1943 to Fort Crook in Omaha, Nebraska. From there he was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and entered active service March 24, 1943 at Camp Polk in Leesville, Louisiana in the 8th Armored Division, 80th Tank Battalion, as the gunner in the tank of the Battalion Commander. In July 1944 he volunteered for the paratroopers and in 1945 he volunteered for Riggers School at Fort Benning, Georgia. After making ten jumps, he left the United States on May 1945 and arrived June 14, 1945 at Luzon in the Phillppines. From there he was stationed at Yokahama, Japan. His unit was one of the first to arrive in Japan when peace was declared. His Battalion Commander was the courier to fly the peace treaty back to the United States. He left Japan on February 5, 1946 and arrived at Seattle, Washington on February 21, 1946. His next stop was Fort Leavenworth, Kansas on February 28, 1946 where he received an honorable discharge as a sergeant first class. During Walter's three years of military service, he was in the 11th Airborne Divison and was honored with the following: The Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon and Asiatic Pacific Theatre Ribbon with one Bronze Star. Walter married Betty Jean Gross at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Avoca, Iowa on June 21, 1947. They moved to Iowa City where he graduated from the University of Iowa in June 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. They moved back to Walnut, Iowa where Walter maintained a 320 acre farm. In addition to farming, Walter started as a rural mail carrier for the Walnut Rural Route 1 area on December 26, 1963 and later also carried mail for the Marne area. On June 21, 1980, Walter and Betty moved into a condominium at Country Green #6 in Atlantic, Iowa. He was active in the American Legion Club #422 and Amvets Post #45 in Walnut, Elks Lodge #445 and Nishna Hills Golf Club in Atlantic, Iowa and was a member of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic. Walter's hobbies included golf and fishing.Walter is survived by his wife Betty; four children and spouses, Randi and Kelly Disser of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Angela and Rhea Beckstead of Dallas, Texas, Willa and John Voldseth of Martinsdale, Montana and Walter and Pamela Rieck of Walnut, Iowa; five grandchildren, Kelly Disser, III, twins, Joseph and Jennifer Disser, Walter L. Rieck and Rachel Rieck; three sisters, Wanda Jacobson, Maxine Scheel, Rose Ann Keebler; a number of nieces, nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister Phyllis BrindleyFuneral InformationA funeral mass for Walter will be held on Wednesday, December 5, 2001, at 10:30 AM at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa with Msgr. Lawrence Beeson officiating. Interment will be in the Walnut Catholic Cemetery at 1:30 PM with a military service conducted by the Walnut American Legion.