Aberdeen: John "Jack" Riley, 78, of Aberdeen passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 2013, at his home.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 214 Seventh Ave. S.W., Aberdeen, with Pastor Hyle Anderson presiding. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Ave. N.W., Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign his online guestbook at schriversmemorial.com.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Visitation continues for one hour before the service at the church.
John Wayne Riley was born Aug. 13, 1935, in Watertown to Agnes B. (Nelson) Riley. He was raised on the family farm near Castlewood. Jack attended Castlewood High School, where he played on the traveling baseball team and held the position of a left-handed pitcher. Following graduation, Jack traveled to many states doing masonry work.
John was united in marriage to Sharon K. Bartz in Missoula, Mont., on Oct. 18, 1968. The couple made their home in Stratford for a short time before moving to Dickinson, N.D., in 1977. They remained there until 1989, when they moved to Aberdeen. While living in Aberdeen, Jack began his own masonry business. Jack and Sharon shared 43 years of marriage before she passed away in August 2011. Jack continued to make Aberdeen his home until the time of his death.
Jack loved old tractors and was an avid car enthusiast. He enjoyed spending time with his coffee buddies and especially loved telling stories from the "old days" to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Blessed to have shared Jack's life are his sons: Doug (Barb) Riley of Aberdeen, Jodey (Kim) Riley of Keller, Texas and Joel (Melinda) Riley of Aberdeen; his daughters: Debbie (Randy) Cartwright of Colorado Springs, Colo., Vickie (Rick) Hausler of Forman, N.D., and Randee (Mike) Van Bruggen of Harrisburg; his stepsons: Mitch (Wanda) Kick of Dickinson, N.D., and Mark (Denise) Kick of Truman, Minn.; 15 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Jack's mother and wife preceded him in death.