Maurice William Riley

Iola — A funeral Mass for Maurice “Moe” William Riley, 78, Iola, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola. Burial will follow in St. Martin’s Cemetery in Piqua.Mr. Riley died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009, at his home.He was born March 31, 1930, in Piqua, the son of William J. and Frances Neiman Riley. He went to elementary school in Piqua, attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, and then transferred and graduated from Maur Hill High School in Atchison in 1948. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Benedict’s College, now Benedictine College, in 1952. Mr. Riley served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War in the Intelligence Corps, as a photo interpreter. He served with the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. After his discharge, Mr. Riley worked as a negotiator with the Navy for Westinghouse Aviation Gas Turbine Division in Kansas City, Mo.He lived in Kansas City and later moved to Piqua, where he farmed and raised cattle. In 1961, Mr. Riley became the rural mail carrier in Piqua. In 1971, he was transferred to Iola. Mr. Riley was a lifetime member of the Kansas State Historical Society and served on the initial board of the Woodson County Historical Society. He also served on the Piqua State Bank board for 20 years. Mr. Riley was the founding president of the Rural Water District No. 1, establishing a water plant in Neosho Falls. He was also was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Iola and a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He served on the church committees at St. Martin’s in Piqua and St. John’s in Iola. He married Rose Mary Strathman on Nov. 13, 1954, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Seneca. She survives, of the home. Mr. Riley and his wife worked with Catholic Engaged Encounter, led more than 50 weekend retreats and served as coordinators for the Wichita Diocese.Other survivors include his four children, Gregg and wife Tami, Redwood Falls, Minn., Karen Pendleton and husband John, Lawrence, Jolene Reeh, McDonald, and Philip and wife Dawn, Oregon, Ill.; nine grandchildren, Brian, Megan, Mitch and Brett Riley, Elizabeth, Margaret and Will Pendleton, and Naomi and Kenan Reeh; and one brother, Robert and wife Frances, La Jolla, Calif.He was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Robert Reeh.A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Chapel in Iola. The family will receive friends following the rosary from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.The family suggests memorials to Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome International, St. Benedict’s Abbey or Allen County Healthcare Foundation (Hospice), sent in care of the funeral chapel, 16 N. Buckeye, Iola, KS 66749. Online condolences may be sent at iolafuneral.com.

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