ODIN — Eleanor M. Reif, 93, died Dec. 4, 2016, at Country Place Senior Living in Hoisington. She was born April 22, 1923, in rural Redwing, the daughter of Adolph and Caroline (Linsner) Demel. Eleanor graduated from Odin High School and then married her sweetheart, Anton J. “Tony” Reif, on Oct. 20, 1942, in Odin. He preceded her in death on May 19, 2011.
Eleanor was a homemaker. Her loves in her life were cooking, sewing, quilting, knitting and gardening. She was always planting flowers wherever she could find room for them. She also loved raising chickens and selling eggs, which she did for many years. She loved going to baseball games with her beloved husband Tony and also square dancing, and we cannot forget the horse races. She would never turn down a friendly game of cards. Her dearest love was her husband Tony and her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Eleanor was also dedicated to her catholic faith. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Claflin, where she was regularly involved in church activities and church organizations and did countless deeds of volunteer work. She was also a member of the EHU, former member of the Daughters of Isabella, and the Altar Society. She will truly be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by a daughter, Sharon Dreiling and the late Gary Dreiling of Hoisington; a son, Greg Reif of Odin; siblings, Cecilia Schneweis of Hoisington, Bernadine Moeder of Great Bend, Bill Demel of Arvada, Colo., James Demel of Sun City, Ariz., and Jerry Demel of Westminster, Colo.; grandchildren, Shelli Dreiling and Ron VanNess of Hoisington, Rebecca Johnson and husband Tim of Salina, Tracie Rubio of Hoisington, Kimberlie Demel of Claflin, Anthony Reif and wife Lisa of Omaha, Neb., Trent Reif of Kansas City, Mo., and Blake Reif of Great Bend; great-grandchildren, Kyler Dreiling and Kinley VanNess of Hoisington, Colby VanNess of Abilene, Zoie, Zylie, Zurie, and Zade Johnson of Salina, Alexis, Zachary, Nicolas and Alaina Rubio of Hoisington, Kole Dove and Gage Demel of Claflin, and Liam Reif of Omaha, Neb.; and great-great-grandchildren Cillian and Casidee VanNess. She was preceded in death by her husband Anton “Tony” Reif; son-in-law, Gary Dreiling; great-granddaughter, Victoria Woods; and a sister, Evelyn Juno.
Vigil with Altar Society Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, celebrated by Father Terrance Klein. Burial will follow in Holy Family Cemetery in Odin. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Holy Family Cemetery Fund or Kans for Kids in care of the Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.nicholsonrickefh.net.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home**
P.O. Box 146; 415 N. Main
Hoisington, KS 67544
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Dec. 6, 2016
