Mary Jo Riekens' Obituary
Mary Jo Riekens, 88, of Corydon, passed away on November 20, 2019 at Wayne County Hospital. Mary Jo was born on January 13, 1931 in Confidence, Iowa to Waldo and Josephine (Fetters) Brawdy. After graduating from Corydon High School in 1949, she married Norman Riekens in Des Moines on November 27, 1958. They had two daughters, Tammi and Kathy. Mary Jo was a devoted homemaker and a loving wife and mother. She was a longtime member of the Church of Christ. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, reading and spending time with her family and friends; especially her grandchildren. She was also an avid political activist. Her family describes her as "a woman whose bright smile and genuine laugh brought so much joy to everyone around her. She was kind, warm, fun, affectionate and adventurous. She was incredibly smart- her vocabulary was unmatched. Mary Jo appreciated beauty, whether in nature, antiques, or a â??special' blouse or dress. She valued the things in life that were both the simplest and most meaningful- whether a day at the tea room with the ladies in her family, enjoying music at the town square, or coming out the winner of many game nights with her loved ones that lasted late into the evening. She shared a special bond with her dog, Mitzi. Mary Jo brought a magical love to everything she did. She will remain in our hearts forever, and we know she is overjoyed to be reunited with her daughter and other loved ones in Heaven." Mary Jo is survived by her husband, Norman; daughter, Kathy Mackey (Don); grandchildren: Simon Dennis (Jennifer), Emily Arnone (Joe), Taylor Faulkner, Ali Faulkner-Chandiramani (Bobby) and Gentry Faulkner (Zach Smith); six great grandchildren; son-in-law, Dr. Marvin Lynn Faulkner; sister, Jeanette Schreck and her husband, Albert and several other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Tammi Faulkner; grandson, Andy Dennis and her brother, Bernard Brawdy. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2019 at Thomas Funeral Home in Corydon. Interment will immediately follow at Confidence Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family in c/o Norman Riekens to assist with funeral expenses. Online condolences may be shared at www.thomasfh.com or facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary Jo Riekens please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Confidence Cemetery Confidence, IA Visitation NOV 25. 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (CST) Thomas Funeral HomeCorydon 303 E. JeffersonCorydon, IA 50060[emailprotected] Funeral Service NOV 25. 1:30 PM (CST) Thomas Funeral HomeCorydon 303 E. JeffersonCorydon, IA 50060[emailprotected]
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