Frances W. Riess

Frances W. Riess
September 18, 1917 - October 09, 2012
North English, Iowa
Frances Gilmore Riess, 95, of North English, died Tuesday, October 9, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Upon cremation, there will be family graveside services at the North English Cemetery. Memorial funds have been established for the Valley View Assisted Living in North English and the English Valley's High School "Dollars for Scholars". Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Frances Wilson Gilmore was born September 18, 1917, in Garden Grove, Iowa, to Alexander and Sarah Little Gilmore. Her family moved to Williamsburg in 1918 and then to North English in 1920. She attended elementary school and graduated from North English High School in 1935. She was a teacher at Grant School in Keokuk County from 1936-1937. In 1937, Frances married William Riess in Galesburg, Illinois, and returned to farm near North English until 1977 when they built a home in town. William died in 2004, and Frances moved to Valley View Assisted Living in 2008 and remained there until her death. Frances was active in support of her children's activities including music boosters, boy scouts, 4-H, and numerous others. Her greatest joy was her family, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Frances and William were strong advocates of education; they supported their children and spouses and grandchildren in their educational endeavors. Their family has achieved a total of 21 degrees from various colleges and universities. Survivors include her daughters Ramona (John) Hall from North English, Sandra (Dexter) Hyde of Cedar Falls, and son William, Jr. (Beverly) from West Des Moines, five grandchildren, Julie (Hyde) Creeden and husband Paul of Cedar Falls, Michelle (Hyde) Swanson and husband Chad of Cedar Falls, Sarah (Hall) Dickson and husband Lance of The Netherlands, Chris Hall and wife Jamie from North English, and Jennifer (Riess) Lundberg and husband Tim of Urbandale. Frances thoroughly enjoyed her 11 great-grandchildren: Matthew and Elizabeth Swanson, Margaret and Thomas Creeden, Allie and Luke Lundberg, Tucker, Madeline, and Elijah Dickson, and Kaden and Delaney Hall. Frances was preceded in death by her husband William, her parents and two sisters: Margaret Kirkpatrick and Evelyn Harvey; four brothers: Robert, Fred, George, and David Gilmore.