Edwin M. Rife
February 6, 1921 — March 13, 2008
Edwin Monty Rife, the son of Cecil and Ethel Petit Rife, was born on February 6, 1921 in Avoca, Iowa. He and his three sisters: Doyne, Bessie and Ruby lived with their parents on "the flat" in Avoca on an acreage where they had milk cows and other livestock. Eddie learned to care for the animals at an early age and during the Great Depression helped support the family with his paper route. He attended school in Avoca but left school after the eighth grade to work on the family farm when the family moved to Dunlap, Iowa.
Eddie served in the United States Navy near the end of World War II and received his honorable discharge on July 7, 1946. After the war he began operating earth moving equipment until he retired.
During his entire life Eddie loved horses and ponies. He farmed with horses and always loved draft animals. He began developing his interest by training his own draft ponies and then began building show wagons and show harnesses for draft horses. If you have seen show draft hitches you have probably seen harnesses built by Eddie Rife.
Edwin died on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa having attained the age of eighty-seven years, one month and seven days. He is preceded in death by his parents and three sisters: Bessie Russmann, Doyne Russmann and Ruby Weber.
Survivors include his nieces and nephews: Ferrell Weber and his wife Karen of Anaheim, California; Jane and her husband Mark Heim of Orange, California; Sharon and her husband Rev. William Simpson of Spring, Texas; Peggy Russmann of Omaha, Nebraska; Sheryl and her husband Jim Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska; Diane and her husband Mike Weigert of Gretna, Nebraska; Carole and her husband Randy Trively of Council Bluffs, Iowa; besides other relatives and many friends.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM with Wayne Paulsen as the clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Paul Lees, Charles Lees, Jim Peterson, Mick Ring, Bob Jacobsen and John Rich. Military Rites by Fred Funston Post No. 227 with interment at Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa.
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Eddie served in the United States Navy near the end of World War II and received his honorable discharge on July 7, 1946. After the war he began operating earth moving equipment until he retired.
During his entire life Eddie loved horses and ponies. He farmed with horses and always loved draft animals. He began developing his interest by training his own draft ponies and then began building show wagons and show harnesses for draft horses. If you have seen show draft hitches you have probably seen harnesses built by Eddie Rife.
Edwin died on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa having attained the age of eighty-seven years, one month and seven days. He is preceded in death by his parents and three sisters: Bessie Russmann, Doyne Russmann and Ruby Weber.
Survivors include his nieces and nephews: Ferrell Weber and his wife Karen of Anaheim, California; Jane and her husband Mark Heim of Orange, California; Sharon and her husband Rev. William Simpson of Spring, Texas; Peggy Russmann of Omaha, Nebraska; Sheryl and her husband Jim Petersen of Omaha, Nebraska; Diane and her husband Mike Weigert of Gretna, Nebraska; Carole and her husband Randy Trively of Council Bluffs, Iowa; besides other relatives and many friends.
Funeral Services were held on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at 1:00 PM with Wayne Paulsen as the clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Paul Lees, Charles Lees, Jim Peterson, Mick Ring, Bob Jacobsen and John Rich. Military Rites by Fred Funston Post No. 227 with interment at Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa.
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