LANSING – Robert (Bob) C. Riese of Lansing, passed away, Feb. 7, 2022, at home with his wife and family by his side. He was born Jan. 2, 1932, in Flushing, N.Y., the son of Albert F. and Emma C. (Hulsebosch) Riese.
Bob grew up in Flushing, working in his dad’s grocery store. He attended Catholic grade schools and St. Francis Xavier High School, a Jesuit school in Manhattan with Junior ROTC. Bob excelled both in academics and small-bore rifle, attaining the rank of Cadet Captain, honor graduate and co-captain of the rifle team.
In 1950, after taking competitive exams, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and on July 5, 1950, entered the Academy with the class of 1954. Upon graduation in June of 1954, Bob was commissioned as a 2nd Lieut. in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He proudly served his country as an engineer officer for 21 years. Bob retired from active duty at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in July 1975 after serving for a year as Battalion Commander of the 2nd Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division in Korea.
Bob met the love of his life, Marietta Golterman, while serving in Great Falls, Mont. They were married on June 15, 1957, in Marietta’s hometown of Plentywood, Mont. She survives at the home. Other survivors include their three children, Stephen (born in Rantoul, Ill.) and wife, Velora, Plattsmouth, Neb., Bill (born in West Berlin, Germany) and his wife, Lisa, Louisburg, Kan. and Kathy Riese Wismer (born in Taipei, Taiwan) and husband, David, Baldwin City, Kan.; along with six grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews.
He enjoyed being active in the community. Bob was a member of the Knights of Columbus in St. Francis de Sales Council #10834 and Joseph P. Hurley Assembly #293. He, along with his wife, were involved in leadership roles with Boling 4-H for many years. He served as president of the Leavenworth Saddle Club and was an active member of the Lansing Historical Society. After retirement from the military, Bob worked as a purchasing director for Meyer Dairy in Basehor, KS from 1975 to 1986 and with Zarda Dairy in Shawnee from 1986 to 1988. In 1989, Bob took a position with Logicon, a government contractor at Ft. Leavenworth, where he worked in the Battle Command Training Program. This gave Bob the opportunity to use many of the military and combat engineering skills he had learned during his 21 years of active service. Bob fully retired in March 1997.
In retirement, Bob kept active with woodworking, collecting antique tools and gardening. He also enjoyed his retired officers’ coffee club (The Old Bastards), working around the house and property, as well as volunteering with his church.
Visitation beginning with the praying of the rosary will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, at St. Francis de Sales in Lansing, Kan. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the St. Francis de Sales Future Capital Projects fund or The Lansing Historical Society.