Roy Clyde Rieschick peacefully went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on December 19, 2023 at the Apostolic Christian Home in Sabetha, KS. Roy was born on March 2, 1945 to Milton and Carol (Gerlt) Rieschick in Inglewood, CA.
Roy married Linda Shafer in 1966. They were blessed with two children, Lori and Ryan. Roy and Linda later divorced. Roy married Kathy Fischer on June 8, 1985 in Falls City, NE. They were blessed with a son, Andrew.
Roy and his parents moved to Falls City six months after his birth. He spent his youth in Falls City, and enjoyed working on cars and hot-rodding with his friends. Roy attended Falls City High School and graduated in 1963. He attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Geology and Hydrology in 1972. He returned home to work at Rieschick Drilling Company with his father immediately after graduating.
Roy’s life was devoted to supplying water for his customers. His work ethic, drive, and toughness were second to none. He drilled his first well when he was only 13 years old, and continued to run the business after Milton’s passing in 1975. He was a member of several groundwater organizations including the National Groundwater Association and the Nebraska Well Drillers Association. He served as Treasurer and Director on the Nebraska Well Drillers Association Board. He had a close relationship with pump manufacturers and helped develop and test Grundfos’ Jet Sub which was cutting edge technology in water well pumps. Roy was considered an expert when it came to groundwater, geology, and well drilling procedures. Thankfully, both of his sons were able to learn from his experience and knowledge by working alongside him nearly every day. He was active in the community serving on the Falls City Public School Board from 1995-2006, Elks Club #963, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Council.
Outside of work and community involvement, Roy’s passion was his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren always put a smile on his face, no matter how hard the day was. He enjoyed being outdoors, boating on the Missouri River, hunting and fishing, having a beer on the patio watching his grandchildren play, and helping his children with any of their current projects, whether it was re-building an antique Minneapolis-Moline engine, or working on the Massey-Ferguson tractor. He also enjoyed putting on firework shows, or watching his kids light them. Roy also loved relaxing indoors, sharing laughs watching Seinfeld, any of National Lampoons Vacations, or Home Alone 1 and 2. He had a great sense of humor and a contagious laugh.
Roy is survived by his wife, Kathy, of Falls City, daughter Lori Rieschick of Lincoln, NE, sons Ryan and his wife Holly of Auburn, NE and their children Maggy (Caleb) Nelson, Meg Rieschick, Macy (Jaxson) Balm, and Andrew and his wife Erin of Falls City and their children Isabel, Ike, Dottie, and Fischer, sisters Lucinda Rieschick of Falls City, and Lois Rieschick of Springfield, NE, and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Milton and Carol Rieschick, brother Donnie Rieschick, and a sister Linda Walton.
His funeral will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (20th and Towle St.) with Reverend Joanna Kathol officiating. Interment will be in Steele Cemetery.
The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6-8:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.
