Keith Riley, born in Des Moines, Iowa, on Dec. 15, 1935, passed away peacefully in Jefferson, Iowa, on July 6, 2024. He was 88 years, 6 months and 22 days old.
Keith was the beloved son of Leo and Mickey (née Johnson) Riley. He spent his formative years on his parents’ farm, where he developed a lifelong passion for farming.
Keith graduated from Rippey High School and proudly served his country in the U.S. Naval Reserve for nine years. On Oct. 11, 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Hildy Leibe, in Perry, and together they began their journey in a modest 28-by-8-foot trailer home, with a tractor, a baler and a car.
Throughout his life, Keith balanced his love for farming with various other occupations. He hauled livestock with a semi-tractor trailer, sold cars in Rippey and Perry and worked at Firestone in Des Moines.
Keith pursued many interests throughout his life. He had a fondness for country and western music, enjoyed tinkering with mechanical things and had a deep appreciation for tractor pulls and antique cars and tractors.
Keith’s legacy is one of hard work, dedication and a deep love for his family and the land he farmed. Home was always open to family and friends. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Keith is survived by his loving wife, Hildy; children, Randy (Sharon) Riley of Perry and Ginger (David) Burrell of Ames; grandchildren, Andy (Jessica) Riley of Rippey, Joshua (Casey) Riley of Dawson, Lindsey Stolte of Perry, Matthew (Becki) Burrell of Ames and Jennifer Burrell of Ames; great-grandchildren, Brent and Max Riley of Rippey, Lilly, Lauren and Charlie Riley of Dawson, Riley and Maverick Stolte of Perry and Finn and Gwen Burrell of Ames.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mickey and Leo; parents-in-law, Walter and Wilma Leibe; brother, Ronnie Riley; niece, Janene Riley; nephew, Daniel Riley; great-granddaughter, Violet Grace Burrell; and many aunts; uncles; and cousins.
A visitation will be held on Monday, July 15 from 1-2 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home-Perry Chapel. Funeral service is at 2 p.m., with a burial to follow at the Rippey Cemetery.
