August E. 'Gene' Riley
August Eugene Riley, 86, of McGregor, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Great River Care Center in McGregor. He was born Feb. 19, 1934, to John J. and Pearl (Laufer) Riley, both of McGregor. He was raised in Sny Magill, where he attended school before graduating from McGregor High School.
After serving in the Army, Gene was united in marriage with Irene A. Henry on June 1, 1957, at The Little Brown Church In The Vale, Nashua. They eventually bought Irene’s childhood home, where she still lives today, to raise their three children and later two grandchildren. Gene worked for the Milwaukee Railroad as a lineman and his free time was split between the family farm in Sny Magill, hunting with his father-in-law, Raymond Henry, and fishing the Mississippi River. The three rounded boathouses, usually all in a row at the riverfront, were his creations. If you had a question about the river or fishing in this area, Gene was the man to ask. He loved to tinker and had some unique skills. People came from as far away as Cedar Rapids to have their chainsaws sharpened by him. One of his “unique skills” earned him the nickname Swivel Hips, as he loved to dance. Gene was so good at telling stories, you didn’t care if it was the first time you heard it or the 57th. In his later years, you would be hard pressed to find him without his terrier, Schotzie.
Gene is survived by his wife Irene Henry Riley; son Stanley Riley of Tennessee; daughter Jena (Michael Kreul) Riley of McGregor; six grandchildren; four great- grandchildren; one of four siblings, Johnny (Cathy, may she rest in peace) Riley and his oldest brother’s wife Dixie.
Preceding Gene are his parents John and Pearl Riley; his daughter Debra Rae Riley; siblings James “Jim” Riley, Ilene (Jerry Fassbinder) Riley and Stella Yvonne (Robert Peters) Riley, fondly remembered as Bun.
Next time you are down by the river, listen closely and you just might hear a favorite little ditty…“I met an ol’ woman and she could do, she could do, she could do…”
Services will be held at a later date.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor is assisting the family with arrangements.
