ELBERON- Clement W. Riha, age 77, of Elberon, died Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama due to a lengthy illness. A Funeral Liturgy will be held Friday, July 25, 2008 at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tama with Deacon Joe Behounek officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Trinity Cemetery in rural Toledo with military honors. Visitation will be held Thursday, July 24, 2008 from 4-7 PM at the Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with a Vigil Service at 7 PM.
Clement W. Riha was born on October 30, 1930, in Vining, Iowa, the son of William John and Mayme Blanche (Roubinek) Riha.
He started his education at Vining Independent School and then attended York #3 country school. He graduated from Clutier High School in 1948. In 1952, he joined the U.S. Army and served his country for fourteen months at Showa Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan and was discharged in 1954. He farmed the family farm his entire career. Clement was a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, KD Lodge and Farm Bureau. As a child, he was involved in 4-H. His hobbies included collecting toy John Deere tractors and taking pictures.
Preceding him in death were his parents.
Survivors include one brother, Stanley (Evelyn) Riha of Cedar Rapids; two sisters, Pauline (Ralph) Sienknecht of Clutier and Wilma (Jim) Hickson of Carrollton, TX; eight nieces and nephews, Carol (Padraic) McGaugh, Janice (Michael) Doutre, Sharon Oglesby, Joyce (Larry) Linik, David (Dawne) Riha, Suzanne Schwartz, Kristine (John) Kelleher, and Brian (Jami) Schwartz; and several great nieces and nephews.
A memorial fund has been established.