Obituary of Ilene H. Ries

Ilene H. Ries, 91, of Iowa City, died Thursday, June 12, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. A celebration of Ilene's life will be held 12:30 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2014, the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City with Sunday parking available. Family committal services will take place at Davenport Memorial Gardens. Memorials in Ilene's name can be made to the First United Methodist Church or the American Legion Auxiliary Post 468 in Sylvania, Ohio. Ilene Helen Paul was born March 21, 1923, in Blissfield, Michigan; daughter of Earl and Helen (Root) Paul. She was married to Rolland Ries, after his return from the war, on June 15, 1946, in Sylvania, Ohio. Prior to their marriage, she worked for the Board of Health in Toledo, OH, and after marriage, Ilene worked in Sylvania with the school census. In 1967, they moved to Bettendorf, where they remained until Rolland's death in September of 2002. Ilene moved to Iowa City in 2007 and has resided here since. She was a past, and longtime member of the Community Church of Christ, and upon arriving in Iowa City attended the First United Methodist Church in Iowa City. Her family includes her children, Richard Ries (partner, Jim Ervin) of Columbus, Ohio, Ila Ries-Lindgren of Lansing, Michigan, Paul Ries (Pam) of Iowa City and David Ries (Kelly) of Centennial, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Emily Portales, Katie Ries, Tiffany Burgess, Tara Herald, Aaron Ries, Amber Wojnicki, Adam Ries, Anna Jenkins and Eric Ries; ten great-grandchildren, Sydney Darling, Oscar Pennell, Carter Burgess, Tanor Herald, Joseph Herald, Michael Herald, Luke Herald, Zoe Jenkins, Fiona Jenkins and Phoebe Jenkins and sister-in-law, Shirley Paul of Gaylord, Michigan. Ilene was preceded in death by her husband, Rolland; infant son, Robert; sisters, Pauline Tabbert and Kathleen Bussing; brother, Dean Paul and sister-in-law, Rachel Stanton. Her family extends their thanks to Dr. Rick Dobyns and the staff of the University of Iowa Hospital for the wonderful care provided to Ilene during her illness.