Ellen (Vsetecka) Riese

Obituary for Ellen Riese

Ellen Mae Riese (née Vsetecka) was born January 11, 1928, to Frank and Rosa (Lukesh) Vsetecka in Fort Atkinson, Iowa. She passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026, in Nevada. Ellen was a long time resident of Colo, Iowa.

Ellen began her education at St. John’s parochial grade school in Fort Atkinson before moving to Colo to begin high school, eventually graduating first in her class. After graduation, she attended Marshalltown Community College. Ellen married Everal Allie and from this union had two sons, John and Michael. After Everal’s passing, she married Arthur Riese, Jr. He preceded her in death in 2011.

In addition to helping manage the family farm and home, Ellen worked at O’Donnell Seed and Feed, Schoonover, and the Colo Telephone Company. She was a member of the St. John’s Ladies Aid, the World Outlook Club, the Birthday Club, and the Order of the Knoll. Ellen served on the board of directors of the Colo Library and the Colo Telephone Company and held various offices in her church and community organizations.

A lifelong Iowa State Cyclones fans, Ellen was a dedicated football and basketball season ticket holder for over fifty years. She was an Iowa Games volunteer for over 30 years. In her free time, Ellen enjoyed crafting, reading mystery novels, and making quilts for the church missions. She was an avid community member: volunteering at schools, churches, the local election boards, and community events. Later in life, Ellen enjoyed traveling in the United States and internationally with family.

Ellen was preceded in death by both husbands, her parents, her sister Laura, brother Daniel, and daughter-in-law Dixie Allie. Ellen is survived by both sons, John and Michael (Carolyn) Allie, grand-daughters Marci (Todd) Rockhold, Kimberlee (Wyatt) Sines, four great-grandsons, Alex (Amber), Elijah, Zachary, and Ethan, one great-great-granddaughter, Elle-Jo Williams, one great-great-grandson, Jase Porter Williams, and her beloved dog Sadie.

Memorials may be made in Ellen’s name to the Trinity Lutheran Church, 206 First Avenue South, State Center IA 50247, the COLO-NESCO Education Foundation Memorial Scholarship, 919 West Street, Colo IA 50056, or a charity of choice. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in State Center, with a private burial to follow.

In Ellen’s own words: “It’s been a wonderful life. May you all remember the good times and remember that in life some rain must fall but there is always the sunshine of the morrow. Au Revoir.”

• Lovingly written by her family.
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Mitchell Family Funeral Home of State Center has been entrusted to care for Ellen and her family. For online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. or call Ph. 641-844-1234.