Funeral services for Richard C. Grienke, 78, of Cherokee, formerly of Aurelia, will be Saturday, December 31, 2011, at 10:30 A.M. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee, with MSGR Kenneth Seifried officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia, with Military Honors by the Cherokee VFW. Visitation will be Friday from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia. A memorial fund has been established.
Richard Carl Grienke was born December 13, 1933, near Aurelia, Iowa, the son of Carl H. and Luella H. (Degen) Grienke. He graduated from the Aurelia High School in 1952. Richard then joined the National Guard, serving for seven years. While in the Guard he began working for Lundell Mfg. as a truck driver and later as a salesman. In 1956 he worked for Kibraz Seed and Excavating during the summers and worked up to Superintendent. In the winter he trucked for Sterling Steel, driving a million miles hauling machinery and steel. He also helped his father farm during planting and harvesting. On June 20, 1964 Richard married Constance J. Bortscheller in Oyens, IA. After Richard’s father died in 1964 he began farming full time and did custom grinding, shelling, and harvesting. After a trucking accident in 1986, Richard changed to hobby farming, just raising livestock. Richard was a member of the Cherokee Ridge Runners, Little Sioux Wild Life Association, Pioneer Machinery Club, Tri State Machinery Club, Corp of Discovery St. Floyd Honor Guard, and former Director of Iowa Wild Life Federation, Iowa Black Powder Federation, American Rope Makers Guild, and Friends of Conservation. Richard presented many programs for school children on the fur trade era and history of Lewis & Clark.
Richard died Wednesday, December 28, 2011, at the Cherokee Villa Nursing and Rehab Center in Cherokee, IA.
Preceding Richard in death were his parents and brother-in-law Dale Bugh.
Survivors include his wife Connie of Cherokee, one daughter, Judy and her husband C.W. Miller of Cherokee, one sister, Claudeen Bugh of Quimby, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; Jim and wife Kathy Bortscheller of Pinellas Park, FL, Larry and wife Janice Bortscheller of Spirit Lake, Fred and wife Colleen Bortscheller of LeMars, Mary Kay and husband Fred Roling of Remsen, Patty Bortscheller of Sioux City, Jean and husband Murphy Copeland of Waverly, TN, Rosie and husband Dan Kunkel of Remsen, and Karen and Bruce Wigg of LaPorte City, nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.