Obituary of Elmer Peter Ries

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Elmer P. Ries, 84, of Dyersville, Iowa died Sunday, October 21, 2012, at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville. Friends may call from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m.Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a vigil service will be held at 5 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 24, 2012, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Noah Diehm will officiate. Elmer was born October 27, 1927, in Luxemberg, Iowa, the son of Mike and Sophia (Conrad) Ries. He was raised in Holy Cross and received his First Holy Communion in Luxemburg. At the age of 18, he moved from the family farm to Dyersville to work for local farmers: Carl Kluesner and Art Pape. Elmer met Anna Marie Scherbring in 1947, and they enjoyed attending dances together. They were united in marriage on November 8, 1949, in Petersburg, Iowa. Together with their six children, they farmed in Petersburg for 31 years. Elmer was also a janitor and bus driver for SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School. Upon moving to Dyersville in 1980, he worked for Hentges Hardware for 13 years. Elmer had a good heart and could never say NO to anyone who needed his help. He loved the holidays, especially Christmas, because he would put up LOTS of outside decorations. Elmer enjoyed playing cards with family & friends, making puzzlels, playing solitaire, bingo, doing word search books, and after retirement he loved making lawn ornaments and Christmas ornaments. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council # 1734. Elmer will be greatly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and anyone who knew him. Survivors include his wife of almost 63 years, Annie, six children: Rita (Dennis) Wolter of Guttenberg, Darlene (James) Staner of Colesburg, Michael (Doris) Ries of Dubuque, Martin (Carol) Ries of Dyersville, Marvin (Darlene) Ries of Delaware and Kathleen (Robert) Curry of Clinton, UT, 25 grandchildren: Dan (Stephanie) Wolter, Scott (Danielle) Wolter, Chris (Lisa) Wolter, Duane (Julie) Staner, Donald (Angie) Staner, Doug (Michelle) Staner, Sheryl (Brian) Hoffman, Dawn (Rick) Blaser, Chad (Friend Holly Russell) Ries, April (friend Ryan Dolan) Ries, Justin Ries, Stacey, Cindy, and Jessie Ries, Michael (Andrea) Ries, Greg (friend Kristin Flannagan) Ries, Joe (friend Jennifer Schooley) Ries, Brenda (friend Jason Kern) Ries, Peter (friend Elizabeth Claypool) Ries, Marie (Mike) Weber, Jim Pins, Kristina Pins, Mark Pins, Aaron Curry, 28 great grandchildren: Brock and Vance Wolter, Jerik Clark, Arianna, Isabella, Olivia and Bodie Wolter, Haeley, Evan and Paige Wolter, Rick Schilling, Kelly and Austin Staner, Megan, Spencer, Ethan and Emma Staner, DeeJay, Deecel and Jordan Staner, Dakota and Cheyanne Hoffman, Kaitlyn and Ember Blaser, Branson Ries, Kenrick Dolan, Sienna Damisch, Kambria and Kipten Ries; sister, Delores Tigges of Dubuque, two sisters-in-law: Clementina Wolf of Mt. Angel, OR and Rose Hansel of Earlville. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Brian Ries, siblings: Lucille (Harold) Keppler, Ed (Viola) Ries, Rose (Arnold) Link, Martha (Herbert) Weidemann, Gilbert (Armella) Ries, Marie (Wilfred) Schmidt, Sally (Leander) Lucas, Florence (Irvin) Keppler, in-laws: Oscar Tigges, Catherine (Frank) Wolf, George Wolf, John (Anita) Scherbring, Carl Hansel, Christina and Lawrence Scherbring. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.