Harcourt – Julia Irene Rieken 94, passed away Friday, May 12, 2023, at Friendship Haven in Fort Dodge. Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Harcourt, with Pastor Kay. Christie officiating. Burial will be at Lost Grove Township Cemetery, near Harcourt. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the Church until service time. Palmer Funeral Home, Gowrie is serving the family. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
Julia is survived by her children, Brinda Griggs of Stratford, Louella (Dick) Brown of Sheffield, Loretta (Harlan) Swanson of Dayton, Bruce (Kim) Rieken of Harcourt, and Rodney (Audrey) Rieken of Ankeny; 12 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great-grandchildren; brothers, Henry Schmidt and Bob (Pam) Schmidt, all of Boone; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin E. Rieken; son-in-law David Griggs; her parents, Perry and Helen (Clark) Wood; sister Katherine Wells; brother Frank Schmidt; and great-grandson Tristan Parker.
Julia Irene Wood was born February 8, 1929, at Boone, Iowa. She attended schools in Boone. On October 3, 1948, she was united in marriage to Edwin E. Rieken and five children were born to this union. Julia worked as a homemaker for most of her life and also worked various jobs in the area. Her husband Edwin passed away in 2010 after 63 years of marriage. Julia was a faithful member of the Harcourt United Methodist Church for over 70 years.