Lois Irene Rieckhoff, age 89, passed away at her residence in Ramsey Village in Des Moines Iowa on the 25th of October, 2023. She was born in Peru, Iowa on November, 14th 1933 to Lorenzo and Myrtle, (Lorenz) Silliman and raised in Earlham Iowa. She was proud to be from a large farm family of 8 children born during the depression. She enjoyed telling amazing childhood farm life stories to her children and grandchildren.
Lois attended College in Kansas City receiving a BA majoring in sociology. She put herself through college by being a nanny in Des Moines during the summers. Lois married William George Rieckhoff on June 20th, 1959.
Lois went back to school in her mid-40s. She attended Scott Community and then Des Moines Area Community Colleges earning a RN nursing degree. She earned her degree while working full time and managing a home with three children and still got straight A’s in school. Lois would go on to work at Des Moines Iowa Lutheran Hospital for many years and worked as an OB nurse. She enjoyed helping bring new life into the world. Then she switched to being a psychiatric nurse and enjoyed supporting patients going through hard times in their lives.
Lois loved to spend time with friends. You knew you were a friend if some of her quick wit and sarcastic humor came your way or when she offered you a chocolate chip cookie, chocolate peanut butter scotcheroo, or some of her butterscotch dessert. She always would send you home with food. When Lois found some time to herself, she loved to garden and always had a large vegetable garden which came naturally from being raised on a farm. She also enjoyed attending plays, musicals and traveling.
Lois and Bill had three children, 7 grandchildren and one great grandson and one great granddaughter. Lois loved her family with a passion few could equal. The grandchildren would always bring a smile to her face. Lois is survived by two children: Greg (Lori)Rieckhoff, Janet Rieckhoff, daughter in law Trudi Rieckhoff, grandchildren Marissa (Mike), Andy, & Grace (Justin), Tia (Jonathan), Nyah Rieckhoff, Rachel (Brandon) and Nathan (Emily) Great grandchildren Liam and Cora; sisters Mae Newton, Marge Gale, Phyllis Crandall, Brother Charles (Dianne) Silliman, sister-in-law Ellen Silliman and many nieces and nephews. Lois was preceded in death by her husband William (Bill), son Brad Rieckhoff, two brothers (Robert and Ronald) and one sister (Josephine).
Memorial service will be held at a future date in 2024.
