Obituary

Warren  Glenn Riekenberg
Warren Glenn Riekenberg

August 3, 1936 - October 21, 2024
Born in Topeka, Kansas
Resided in Urbandale, Iowa
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Obituary

Warren Glenn Riekenberg, age 88, passed from this world at home on Monday October 21, 2024. He is survived by Carol Lee, his wife of 53 years, son Eric, daughter Lee Ann, her husband Chad Leasure, grandsons Torin and Arik, niece Koren Kerr and nephew Brynn Kerr.

A visitation will be held on November 2, 2024 at Iles Westover Chapel from 3:00pm- 5:00pm with military honors and a vigil service beginning at 5:00pm. Private Interment will be at Iowa Veteran Cemetery.

Warren was born to Vergie Weese Ingraham and Lorenz Johan Riekenberg in Topeka, Kansas, on August 3,1936. Together with his younger sister, Sibyl Marie, he spent his formative years in Chillicothe, Illinois.

The family moved back to Kansas in the 1950s where he attended Topeka High School and later KU, the University of Kansas, in Lawrence. Following in his father’s footsteps, Warren graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and eventually became a licensed Engineer in Kansas, Illinois and Iowa.

Warren’s experience in R.O.T.C. at KU, lead him to a career in the military, where he proudly served in Korea and Vietnam. He returned to this country in 1968 and prior to completing his military service from which he was honorably discharged in 1970, he was assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers District Office in downtown Chicago where he held the rank of Major.

It was there he met his lifelong soulmate, Carol Lee Alberts, whom he married in 1971, and was blessed with two wonderful children, Eric Karl and Lee Ann Marie.

They lived in Batavia, Illinois, for 15 years before moving to Urbandale, Iowa, in 1986, where he continued his Civil Engineering career until he retired.

Warren was a member of the American Legion, the Wheaton Rifle Club and various Engineering Societies. He enjoyed the shooting sports, history, music, science fiction, and spending quality time with his family as often as possible. He and Carol Lee took many delightful trips to the Houston area to visit their son, an Aerospace Engineer, who introduced to them first hand the wonders of science and space exploration.

They also looked forward to overseas visits with their daughter and her family when son-in-law Chad Leasure was stationed in Italy and Germany during his own Army and Air Force career. Warren was proud that his daughter, now in the Nursing Program in Colorado Springs, had also served in the military, that Grandson Arik, an accomplished machinist, is now studying Welding, and that Grandson Torin is currently serving in the US Navy.

Warren loved drives in the country, strolling the woods and walking the paths in nearby parks with Carol Lee. Just “being one with nature” was a beautiful part of their life. He was a man of few words but whenever he spoke, you knew he was also a man of wisdom, with a special kind of humor that will long be remembered! Warren will be greatly missed by all who loved him.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Salvation Army. Online condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel.

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Services

Visitation
Iles Westover Chapel
6337 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA US 50322
Saturday, November 2, 2024
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Military Honors and Vigil Service
Iles Westover Chapel
6337 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA US 50322
Saturday, November 2, 2024
5:00 PM

Charities

Salvation Army
1216 E 25th Court
Des Moines, IA 50317
St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place
Memphis, TN 38105