Geraldine R Rixe

Geraldine R. Rixe, 97 of Wayland, died peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Washington County Hospital, following a short illness. She has gifted her body to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa.

A Celebration of her life will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Wayland Mennonite Church. The service will be livestreamed on the Beatty-Peterseim Facebook page and YouTube Channel. Family visitation will be from 9:00 AM-10:45 AM before her service. Memorials may be designated to Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Mennonite Central Committee or Gideon International. Beatty-Peterseim Funeral Home as been entrusted with caring for Geraldine and her family.

Geraldine was born April 6, 1928, in Sioux City, Iowa, the daughter of Ruth Viola Keiser. 3 years later, she moved to Wayland to live with her grandmother, who raised her. She was baptized at the Sugar Creek Mennonite Church. She joined the Wayland Mennonite Church in 1947 and remained an active member. She graduated from Wayland High School in 1946. She then furthered her education and graduated from Southeastern Community College in 1975 and Iowa Wesleyan College in 1983. She married Glen Richenberger, and they had four children, they later divorced. In 1997, she was united in marriage to Harold Rixe.

She worked many jobs in Wayland, including Zehr Funeral Home, Wayland Telephone Company, Hileman’s Bakery, and the City of Wayland. She also cleaned houses, sold Avon, and worked with the US Census in the 70s and 80s. Along the way, she held other jobs such as working at Lutheran Social Services Home for girls, Henry County Extension Office, Mobile Nursing Services, and Social Teaching Work. In her “spare time” she spent time volunteering at the Parkview Home, reading and visiting with residents, gardening, church activities, and singing in groups. She was also a member of Gideon International Women’s Auxiliary.

Geraldine was a woman of great faith and passion for music, especially singing. She was a member of the church choir and sang in a mixed quartet alongside Dwaine Hirshey. She sang with the Sweet Adelines in Mt. Pleasant and Iowa City and sang in England for competition. She was a member of the Washington Choral Society that sang at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Cindy Richenberger, son Michael Richenberger, both of Wayland daughter-in-law, Mary Lou Richenberger of Wayland, and Tracy Richenberger of FL; six grandchildren, Scott Richenberger, Amy Richenberger, Laura (Micah) Scott, Steve (Katie) Richenberger, Stephanie Richenberger, and Annie Richenberger; nine great-grandchildren, Penelope Xavier, Brett, Drew, Jackson, Luke, Leah, Oliver, and Emmett.

She was preceded by her mother, Ruth Keiser Allen, husband Harold Rixe, sons Stan Richenberger and Duran Richenberger, daughter-in-law Linda Richenberger, and grandson Eric Richenberger.

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