Loretta Eilleen Rieks

Loretta Eilleen (McCarty) Rieks was born in Eldora, IA on August 28, 1939 to John and Nellie (Wilson) McCarty. She was baptized and raised in the Catholic Church as a child. She attended school in Eldora and graduated in 1957. In high school she was trained as a legal secretary and worked for a law office in Eldora.

She was united in marriage to Eugene Rieks on April 11, 1958. They were blessed with two daughters, Julie and Jeanne. She was a loving mother and shared her talents with her daughters. After her marriage she became a member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Hubbard.

She enjoyed being a farmer's wife and all that went along with it, making a happy home for her family. Loretta enjoyed cooking and entertaining. Friends and family were always welcome in their home and always left well fed. She was the best hostess – from hosting the first day of Pheasant hunting season, to Christmas Day dinners, and family reunions at the cabin. She was famous for her potato salad, cinnamon rolls, homemade Christmas candy, crystal pickles, and Gene's favorite chocolate pie.

After her daughters left home, she worked at McCormick Law Office in Hubbard. Later she worked at Mary Greeley Medical Center as a unit secretary on the Pediatrics floor and then in Human Resources.

Her family has many wonderful memories of gatherings at the cabin that Gene and Loretta built by the river. She cherished time spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always made sure to tell them how proud she was of them.

Loretta loved to play cards and games, and she belonged to many card clubs over the years. Eugene and Loretta enjoyed traveling and took many trips on their motorcycle. She also volunteered many hours at the Hubbard Care Center.

One month after celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Eugene passed away after a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Loretta had lovingly and selflessly cared for him every day for those four years becoming his "nurse" by necessity.

Loretta left for her eternal home on September 13, 2025 at the Hubbard Care Center.

She is survived by her two daughters, Julie (Randy) Hill, and Jeanne (John) Ricketts; four grandchildren, Tyler (Christina) Hill, Megan (Kory) Thompson, Jacob (Heather) Kunze, Jamie (Aaron) Thacker; seven great-grandchildren, Caleb, Abygail, Natalie, and Samantha Hill, Isabel and Hannah Kunze, and Brynn Thacker; her half siblings, Curt (Linda) Smith, Corliss Smith, and Greg Smith; along with other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband Eugene, her parents, and her sister Nellie Irene Arnold.