Peter A. Riehle

Peter A. Riehle, age 66, of Litchfield, MN, passed away on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at home surrounded by family and a room full of love. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN with a visitation one hour before the service at church. There will be an informal gathering at the Darwin Rod & Gun Club on Thursday, February 15 from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. Burial will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Darwin. Full Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Peter was born on November 9, 1951 in St. Paul, MN and was raised on the East side of the city. He attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Hill High School in 1970, enlisting in the United States Coast Guard in 1970, serving honorably for 10 years. He met his wife Pamela while being stationed in Puerto Rico and they were married in 1973 at Ramey Air Force, Aguadilla, PR. After being discharged, Pete and Pam moved to Darwin area where Pete worked for his brother Jim at Precast Systems and for a short time served as the Chief of Police of Darwin, call number 451. Pete was united in marriage to Kathleen on July 16, 2011 in Litchfield, MN. Pete was a 27 year employee of the Meeker County Sheriff’s office as a Corrections Officer and Jail Programmer, retiring in 2013 and returning as a part-time Transport Officer until June of 2017. Pete enjoyed riding his motorcycle, his bike trips with brothers Jim and Art, four wheeling with friends and family, camping, playing cribbage and euchre, bonfires at the lake, wine time with Jeopardy, reading and traveling. He was a member of the Darwin Rod & Gun Club, Darwin Drifters Snowmobile and ATV Club, American Legion in Litchfield and Zion Lutheran Church. With all of Peter’s accomplishments, his most cherished was his family. He is survived by wife Kathleen of Litchfield; daughter Laura (Mike) Loch of Darwin; son Louie (Jackie) Riehle of Litchfield; step-daughter Jeanna (Troy) Grise of Oak Grove; step-son John (Jen) Baehr of Lino Lakes; grandchildren Braeden, Reese, Kira, Dalton, Savannah, Morgan, Callie, Elsie, Jack, Betty and Joe; brothers Jim (Elaine) of Darwin and John Arthur (Carol) of Darwin; sisters Mary (Jim) Lavorato of Maplewood and Pauline (Tom) Durham of Waterloo, IL; along with many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Pamela and parents Louis and Stella Riehle. Peter was a humble, unassuming man. His smile and gentle way will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Gracious are the ones who have touched our lives in some way, shape and form, and precious are the memories that they give us to recall. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Ecumen Hospice Program.