David J. Riessen, age 61, of Ida Grove, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at the Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, Nev. He passed away from complications of a brain tumor while visiting his sister.
A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 15, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate. A Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 14, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove. The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com.
David was born Feb. 9, 1957, to Donald and Janet (Fulton) Riessen, which must have been a popular birthday since he shared it with one of his favorite aunts, Shelia Rohlk and cousin Jimmy Ullrich, both deceased. Growing up in the Ida Grove area, David attended Ida Grove High School and graduated in 1975. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he was baptized and confirmed.
He married Jolene Hermiston of Blue Grass on Aug. 23, 1986. Jolene always wanted to marry a farmer and she found herself a great one. David was overjoyed when they had two sons, Cory and Lee, and as they grew up, he was able to instill in them the same love of the farm that he had.
Working the farm made David the happiest, whether in a tractor working the ground or taking care of the feedlot cattle, he truly was a man of the land. His ashes will be spread on the farm ground he so loved and as the seasons come and go, he will always be a part of that circle of life.
David was a man of great faith too and his favorite saying, “It will be what it will be,” helped him cope with the cancer that was shortening his life. It was a very long 10 months but David is now free and his soul is doing chores in heaven with his mother, Janet, whom he loved very much. His wife Jolene, sons Cory of Schaller and Lee of Ida Grove along with Lee’s special friend Lexi Schmidt of Schaller, will continue David’s legacy on the farm he worked so hard on and loved so much.
David loved his sisters very much, even though he sometimes teased them relentlessly. Linda (Larry) Paulsen of Ida Grove, Pam (Gailen) Wessel of Ida Grove, and Lisa (Kirk) Siebrecht of Las Vegas, have many good memories together and he found great comfort by being with them through his cancer journey. They were amazing support for him and wonderful sisters.
David finally got the “brothers” he had always wanted when he married Jolene as she had four brothers, Jeff (Kristina) Hermiston of West Liberty, Terry (Michelle) Hermiston of San Francisco, Calf., Bruce (Sherry) Hermiston of Blue Grass and Mitchel (Eileen) Hermiston of Iowa City. David also added a sister-in law to the mix through that marriage, Lanette Dietrich of Minneapolis, Minn. Many good times with family were enjoyed through their 32 years of marriage.
David is also survived by his father Don Riessen, and Jolene’s parents John and Charlene Hermiston of Blue Grass, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and friends.
David’s kindness toward others in need will never be forgotten. He was a firm believer in being a good neighbor and helping when he could. Gone too soon….
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