Riha, Stanley C.

Stanley C. Riha, a Korean War veteran, retired machinist, farmer and much loved father of five, died Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, at West Ridge Care Center after a long illness. He was 83.

Stanley was born Jan. 9, 1929, in Vining, Iowa, the eldest son of William John and Mayme Blanche Roubinek Riha. He grew up on the family farm between Vining and Clutier in Tama County and graduated valedictorian of his class from Clutier High School in 1947.

Stanley served as a technical sergeant first class with the 74th Combat Engineers in Korea from 1951 to 1953, helping to earn a meritorious unit citation. He helped blast roads through the mountains and build bridges ahead of troops moving to the front lines. Stanley was a longtime member of the American Legion.

Stanley married Evelyn Violet Deetz in Vining in 1957. The two had met years earlier at Danceland Ballroom in Cedar Rapids, where each had gone with friends.

A dedicated tinkerer, Stanley could fix almost anything mechanical. His grandfather had founded a Ford dealership in Vining, where Stanley worked as a mechanic for several years.

Stanley and Evelyn moved to Cedar Rapids in 1961. Stanley worked 27 years at Cherry-Burrell Corp., where he was a machinist and then mechanical maintenance lead. By the time he retired in 1994, he had repaired most machines in the plant. He was a proud union member.

Throughout his life, Stanley continued to work on the family farm. Every spring, he planted crops and, every fall, brought in the harvest, often with his children in tow. In between, he tended livestock, mended fences, and tinkered with more than a handful of tractors. The John Deeres were his favorites.

In addition to raising five children with Evelyn, Stanley helped countless others through years of volunteerism with the Boy Scouts of America's local Troop 33. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved fishing.

Despite numerous health issues in recent years, he was always upbeat and his faith never wavered. Stanley was a devout Catholic, a member of the Catholic Workman fraternal organization and a member of St. Jude Catholic Church.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Jude's by the Rev. Mark Reasoner. Private family burial: Holy Trinity Cemetery near Vining. Friends may visit with the family at Teahen Funeral Home Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m., with prayers to be held at 4 p.m. Friends may also visit at the church after 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

Stanley is survived by five children, Carol Ann Riha (Padraic D. McGaugh) of West Des Moines, Janice (Mike) Doutre of Sequim, Wash., Sharon Oglesby of Cedar Rapids, Joyce (Larry) Linik of Corvallis, Ore., and David (Tamara) Riha of Lakeville, Minn.; five grandchildren, Nathan and Brandon Riha, Kaitlyn and Sam Oglesby and Nicholas Linik; sisters, Pauline (Ralph) Sienknecht of Clutier and Wilma (Jim) Hickson of Colorado; and several nieces and nephews.

Stanley was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Evelyn (2010); and a brother, Clement.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com

Published Nov. 29, 2012 in The Gazette