Kenneth Joseph Ries

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St Cecilia Catholic Church, 2900 Hoover Ave, Ames, IA 50010. Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the church. Inurnment of ashes will be held at Crawford Heights Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Denison, Iowa at a later date. There will be a luncheon at the church following the Funeral Mass.

Ken was born on August 26, 1929 to Marie (Driscoll) and Edward Joseph Ries in Carroll, Iowa. He graduated from St. Anne’s Academy, located in Vail, Iowa in 1948. While growing up he worked on the family farm, delivered ice, and at The Ries Cafe in Vail, as well as on a railroad section crew before being called to duty in the Army. Ken served honorably in the Army from 1951 until 1953 and was stationed in Germany. After returning home, he married his sweetheart Delores Petersen on October 15, 1955 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Vail. He was involved with Ries Amusement Company in Denison both before his Army enlistment and after. In 1959, the family moved to Ames to start their business, KD Amusement and Game Room Supply. Ken was an active member in the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.

Ken is survived by his wife, Delores Anna (Petersen) Ries; his six children, Ron (Linda) Ries of Ames, Iowa, Deanna Gallaher of Cedar falls, Iowa, Thomas Ries of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Debra (Tony) Barry of Buffalo, Minnesota, Edward (Carrie) Ries of Ottumwa, Iowa, and John (Erin Albright) Ries of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; his eight grandchildren, Matt, Geoff, Hannah, Kyle, Jake, Charity, Chad, and Tina; several great grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Delano (Jan) Petersen, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Marie (Driscoll) and Edward Joseph Ries; his siblings, Ethel Abbott, Phillis Ries, Don Ries, Helen Quesnell; his granddaughter, Alyssa Gallaher, and his nephew, T. Ed Abbott.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bickford of Ames and Gentiva Hospice for their loving care of Ken.

Memorials may be directed to the family in loving memory of Kenneth.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy can be shared at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com for the Ries family.

Livestream Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2j07K_dICo