John Riley Rieker

1925 - 2023

News story
By Mike Sigov
Blade staff writer

FINDLAY - John Riley Rieker, a Findlay entrepreneur who was a decorated Battle of the Bulge veteran, died April 16 at Birchaven Village. He was 98.

He died of congestive heart failure, his son Mike Rieker said Monday.

"He was very hardworking, friendly, and loving, had a lot of friends, and lived a great life," Mr. Rieker said, adding that his father never talked about his war experience until he was in his early 80s.

The elder Mr. Rieker was helping hold the line under a German infantry attack in the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 16, 1944, the day the battle started, when he was wounded in his left leg with a German mortar shell fragment, Mr. Reiker said.

"He just talked about how he got wounded and how cold it was during the battle," he said.

The elder Mr. Rieker retired about 1985 as the owner of the former Findlay Equipment Co., from the early 1960s, when he bought it until he sold it once retired.

Before that, he owned Findlay Lumber Co. from the early 1950s, when he bought the company, until the early 1960s, when he sold it shortly before buying the other company.

Additionally, he was a salesman for Home Window Company of Ohio in Canton, Ohio, from the early 1950s until about 1972.

Over the years, Mr. Rieker also volunteered for area charities. He was a former board member of Hope House, and a former co-chairman of the Thanksgiving food drive at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, both in Findlay.

Born March 15, 1925, in Canton to Elizabeth and Herman Rieker, he was a 1943 Dover, Ohio, High School graduate.

In July 1943, he was drafted into the Army. He then fought in Europe with the 78th infantry division, 311 regiment K company until he was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, the final major offensive by the German army in World War II.

Along with the Purple Heart, his decorations included the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, American Campaign Medal; and European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal. He also received a presidential citation for his heroism in the Battle of the Bulge.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army in August, 1945, Mr. Rieker returned to Findlay and later used his GI Bill to attend Ohio State University. After two years of college, he returned to Findlay to start his business.

In 1947, he married the former Margaret Altwies. She died in 2018.

Mr. Rieker was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Findlay, where he was an usher.

He was also a member and former co-chairman of the local American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Elks, and Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Dover, Ohio post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Surviving are his sons, Michael, Thomas, and David Rieker; daughter Nancy Durden; ten grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ben and Jim Rieker.

Services will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

The family suggests tributes to the church's educational fund or Bridge Home Health and Hospice, Findlay.