Eileen E. Riess, age 70, of Hudson, WI, died on March 23, 2021 at Comforts of Home in River Falls, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

Eileen was born on November 16, 1950 in Hastings, MN to Andrew and Evelyn (Dahlberg) Linkert. She grew up on her family’s farm in Hastings, and graduated from St. Croix Lutheran High School in West St. Paul. While attending Dr. Martin Luther College for education, she met Michael Riess, and the two were married on October 16, 1971. Their marriage was blessed with four children: Cary, Aaron, Kyle, and Kirstin.

As a family, they enjoyed traveling, including trips to the Warner 4 cabin in Canada. They had sweet memories of baking cookies together, and going bowling, golfing, and playing racquetball. In her younger years, she also treasured entertaining her friends for their monthly bridge club. She was an avid reader of mysteries and other fiction novels, and loved needlepoint and crocheting.

Eileen was a talented artist, not only in her drawings, but also as a singer and musician. She was always singing. She often played piano and violin, and a little clarinet. She was very active in her church, teaching Sunday school, volunteering with the youth program, choir, ladies guild, LWMS and designing and making the altar banners. Her love for growing up on the family farm sprouted into a love for all things in the garden.

She was all about her faith, her family, and her friends. Her grandchildren were her true joy, and her love for them was indescribable. She had a strong and loving heart, always supporting her family whenever she could. Her warmth and thoughtful nature and beautiful smile will be dearly missed and forever remembered.

Eileen is survived by her loving husband, Michael; 4 children: Cary (Mark) Chapin, Aaron (Betsy) Riess, Kyle (Erin) Riess, and Kirstin (Dale) Keller; 15 grandchildren; 3 sisters: Mary (Denny) Caauwe, Johanna (Harry) Mears, and Martha Linkert and 2 foster brothers: Harvey Bennett and Eugene Tormanen. She is preceded in death by her parents.

A Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on March 29 at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church in River Falls. Funeral Service will be at 2 pm on March 30 also at Faith Ev. Lutheran Church. Her service will be livestreamed – please click HERE  (starts at 8min mark) for the service. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in River Falls, WI.