Eldon Eugene Rieckhoff, 89, of Hughesville, passed away Friday, October 22, 2021, at Bothwell Regional Health Center.
Born July 3, 1932, in Dover, Lafayette County, he was one of three children of H.J. and Lillie O. (Dallman) Rieckhoff.
Eldon attended Bleak Mound School during his elementary years and was a 1950 graduate of La Monte High School.
He served in the United States Army 1
st
Cavalry Division during the Korean Conflict as a military police officer in Japan.
On March 6, 1955, at Epworth United Methodist Church, he was united in marriage to Patricia Ann (Green), who preceded him in death on June 2, 2020. This union was blessed with three sons.
Eldon farmed his whole life in Pettis County with his wife of 65 years. He was a 4-H Horsemanship leader, founding member of the La Monte Junior Rodeo Club, and served on the La Monte School Board where he was past president. In his younger years he was an avid hunter. He loved his horses and his hounds.
He was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Mark (Stacy) Rieckhoff, of Houstonia, Dwayne (Cindy) Rieckhoff, of Windsor, Paul (Samantha) Rieckhoff, of Hughesville; ten grandchildren Kendra (Brandon) Krapfl, of Moberly, Kaitlin Ann Rieckhoff, of Windsor, Austin Eugene Rieckhoff, of Houstonia, Emalea Rieckhoff, of Memphis, TN, Logan (Rachelle) Rieckhoff, of LaMonte, Shane Rieckhoff, of Hughesville, Theodore Rieckhoff, of Windsor, Cody (Alayna) Parrott, of Knob Noster, Caleb Divine, of Windsor and Lane Divine, of Windsor; four great-grandchildren, Brooke Mary Rieckhoff, Ella Parrott, Kennedy Jo Krapfl and Luke Parrott; a sister, Dorothy Sparks, of LaMonte; three nieces, Charla (Alvin) Jording, of LaMonte, Debbie (Jeff) Brown, of Chattanooga, TN, and LeaAnne (Larry) Bell, of Green Ridge; and two nephews, Gordon (Kay) Sparks, of LaMonte and Scott (Kim) Rieckhoff, of Hughesville.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Wayne Rieckhoff; niece, Stacy Davis; sisters-in-law, Beverly Sue Pace and Scotty Scotten; and brothers-in-law, Charles Sparks and Coleman Pace.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 27, 2021, at Heckart Funeral Home, with Moses Yoder officiating.
Casket bearers will be Austin Rieckhoff, Logan Rieckhoff, Shane Rieckhoff, Theo Rieckhoff, Scott Rieckhoff and Gordon Sparks.
Honorary bearers will be Bob and Edith Knight, Lester Knight, Cody Parrott, Donnie Hitaffer, LeaAnne Bell, Glenn and Karen Powell, Alfred Green, Gerald Taylor, Charles Opfer, James Opfer and Lawrence Ream.
Burial will be in La Monte Cemetery, with military honors by the U.S. Army and VFW Post 2591.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 26, at Heckart Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Bethel United Methodist Church or Show-Me Christian Youth Home.