Francis Riha

February 14, 1934 ~ November 29, 2023
Francis Riha age 89 of Waucoma, IA, died Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, IA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waucoma with Rev. Nick Radloff celebrating the Mass. Interment will be held at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Waucoma.
Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 4, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Waucoma where there will be a 7:00 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Tuesday.
Francis Theodore Riha age 89 of Waucoma died Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at Aase Haugen Senior Services Decorah, Iowa. Francis was born February 14, 1934, to Frank and Mary (Franzen) Riha on the St. Lucas farm and moved to the Waucoma homestead in 1939. He was the eighth of nine siblings and shared a birthday with his older brother, Edward, who was born 12 years earlier. Francis attended Catholic grade school at St. Mary’s in Waucoma and later graduated from Waucoma Public High School in 1952.
Francis was drafted into the Army in 1956. He completed boot camp at Fort Carson in Colorado and attended Quarter Master training in Washington DC. Francis was stationed in South Carolina. Upon his discharge in 1958, he returned to the family farm and resumed farming. He met Regina (Jeannie) Hoey while attending church. Francis had to ask her out after mass as Grandpa Hoey did not believe in telephones at that time. They were wed on July 16, 1960. They have four children: Bernadine, Cathleen, David, and JoEllen.
Farming was Francis’s passion over the last 63 years. From raising hogs, planting crops, and driving tractors, Frank kept busy. Even in retirement, he checked grain futures, mowed the lawn, and fed a bevy of yellow finches, woodpeckers, and Blue jays. As a farmer, he would always tell you “We could use some rain”. Neighbors would always find Frank on (Mom’s) Kubota surveying the crops. Francis had a quiet demeanor, but could come up with a corny remark when least expected. He always had a twinkle in his eye and when not farming, was spoiling his grandchildren. Francis was a member of St Mary’s church of Waucoma where he taught religion class, and served as Eucharist minister and lector.
Francis is survived by his wife Jeannie; son David Riha of Fort Atkinson, IA; daughters, Bernadine (Kevin) Keck of Davenport, IA, Cathleen (Mark) Bassing of Minnetrista, MN, and JoEllen (Jim) Bridgewater of Blairstown, IA; four grandchildren: Matt (Brooke) Keck Davenport, IA, Brian Keck Davenport, IA, Nicole (Tim) DeWeese Prior Lake, MN, Nathan Bassing Minnetrista, MN; one great-grandson on the way; sister, Barbara (James) Jirak of Fort Atkinson, IA; brothers-in-law, Bill Hoey of Lawler, IA, Jim (Elaine) Hoey of Waucoma, IA, Wayne (Diane) Wurzer of Solon, IA; sisters-in-law Shirley Riha of Waucoma, IA, Jane (Ron) Eckenrod of New Hampton, IA, Mary Hoey of New Hampton, IA, and Mary Hoey of West Union, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary Riha; his father and mother-in-law, Leonard and Edna Hoey; brothers, James Croatt, Edward Riha, Matthias Riha, Leonard Riha, Daniel Riha; sisters Loretta Rausch, Angela Brannon; brothers- in-law, Alex Rausch, William Brannon, Tom Hoey, Pat Hoey; sisters-in-law; Verena Croatt, Anges Riha, Mary Riha, Millie Riha, Kathy Hoey, and Sally Wurzer.
The Riha family would like to thank the dialysis staff for the care and compassion they provided to Frank for the last 6 years. Memorials may be made to Mayo Clinic Outreach Dialysis Center – Decorah, IA
Jackie Smith
Sorry for your loss prayers 🙏
Jackie Smith
Sorry for your loss prayers sent!!🙏🏻❤️
Sympathy to your family 🙏
Sympathy and prayers to you all. Sorry for your loss!
Sorry for your loss!
So sorry for your loss
Sympathy and Prayers to all the family..
May he rest in peace. So sorry
Prayers to the family❤️
So sorry for your families loss 🙏🏼
My condolences
So sorry Jeannie, praying for you and your family
Sorry for your loss Jeannie.
Sympathy to his family. He fought a good, long fight.
Sending prayers for all your family.
Jeanne our sympathy to you and your family
So sorry for your loss, Jeannie I am thinking of you and your family, You have my sympathy.
So sorry to see this. Thoughts and prayers forall of you. HUGS Jeannie.
Sending our sympathies, John and Diane
Jeannie so very sorry to hear of your loss. He was truly one of the good guys. Always loved chatting with the two of you. Our sympathy goes to you and your family. Hugs lady.
Sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear this. 🙏 to the family.
Condolences to Bernadine and all of the Riha family 🙏
Sorry for your loss 🙏
So sorry for your loss…sending prayers
Our prayers to Jeannie and family. Francis was a great guy!
Jeannie, you and Francis have been such great neighbors and we will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Cathy, so sorry to hear of the loss of your dad. May you find comfort and peace knowing he has been called home to be with his maker.
Sorry for your loss 🙏
Our thoughts and prayers for you loss. God bless.
My sympathy to you Jeannie and all your family.
My sympathy to the entire Riha family during this sad time. Lara (Nusz) Hicok
Thoughts and hugs to you Jeannie. Sorry to heard this.
So sorry, Jeannie. My condolences to you and the entire family. God Bless you all.
Sending prayers to his family. Jeanne and David Roder
Sorry for your family’s loss 🙏
My sincere sympathy to the Riha family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sorry for your family loss. He was a kind man.