Riha Sr., Richard William

Richard William Riha Sr., 74, of Elberon, passed away Friday, March 4, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 10, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining, with Father Ken Gehling as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in rural Vining. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama.

Richard was born Nov. 2, 1936, in Vining, Iowa, the son of John Vencil and Adele L. (Krueger) Riha. He served his country in the U.S. Navy. Richard was united in marriage to Norma J. Noe on Oct. 1, 1966, in Maquoketa. He farmed by Vining and also drove truck. Later, Richard was the owner of the Wagon Wheel Bar in Elberon. He retired in 2000.

Richard was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vining and also the Elberon American Legion. Richard was also a member of the Vining Fire Department until retiring in the 1970s after many years of service. In his free time, he enjoyed woodworking.

Preceding him in death were his parents, John and Adele Riha; son, Ronald J. Riha; brother, John “Jack” Riha; sister-in-law, Lorraine Haddy Riha; and parents-in-law, Otis and Velma Noe.

Survivors include his wife, Norma of Elberon; nine children, Karen Craig of Vacaville, Calif., Caroline (Dan) Nekola of Elberon, Barbara J. (Michael) Gehling of Chelsea, Richard William (Vicki) Riha Jr. of Tama, Tammy J. (Brad) Price of Belle Plaine, Norma A. (Tom) Svacina of Tama, Timothy J. Riha of Elberon, Debra (Ronald) Deen of West Burlington and Teresa (Carl) Bennett of Orange Park, Fla.; 25 grandchildren; one brother, Paul E. (Luree) Riha of Belle Plaine; two sisters, Doris (Kenny) Lawrence of Belle Plaine and Vicki (Roman) Thome of Gilbertville; and a son-in-law, Edwin Canales of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A memorial fund has been established.