Donald Riegle

Donald Lewis Riegle, 86, peacefully left this earth for his heavenly home on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Heritage, Findlay, and was formerly of the Vanlue/Carey area.
Don was born on June 15, 1935, to Hallie and Ethel (Kidd) Riegle, he was a purple hurricane and graduated from Mt. Blanchard High School in 1953. He married Jeannette Lee on Feb. 15, 1959, at the E.U.B Church just south of Vanlue.
They had two children, Denise (Ken) Edwards, of Smithville, and Kurt Riegle of Arcadia. They had six grandchildren, Tyler (Amanda) Smith of Vanlue, Joel Smith of Cincinnati, Hannah (Trent) Derrick of Charleston, S.C.; Eli Riegle of McComb, Seth Riegle of Findlay, and Joshua (Ashley) Riegle of rural Carey. They have one great-grandchild, Josiah Smith.
Don’s early career included jobs at Centrex, Producer’s Livestock and Whirlpool. He was a lifelong livestock and grain farmer. Don, along with his two brothers, dug graves for 50 years at numerous local cemeteries. He was a former Ridge Township and Wyandot County Trustee. He also was a board member for Vanlue Grain and Supply.
He was a Gideon and involved in the Marion Corrections Prison Ministry. He was a past member of the Findlay Men’s Garden Club where he was able to hone his rose and gardening skills. He was currently a member of Hancock County Farm Bureau, the Ohio Bluebird Society and Vanlue Christ United Methodist Church. He served in the Army National Guard.
He enjoyed watching the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Boston Celtics. He also enjoyed traveling the state to follow the University of Findlay Oilers men’s basketball games. He was an avid fisherman and planned many trips with family and friends to Canada. After retirement, Don could often be found building, installing and giving away Bluebird houses. In his free time, he enjoyed county and states fairs where he would watch the horse shows and horse pulls.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and in-law’s, Richard (Ellen) Riegle, Doris (Jack) Algae, Betty (Leo) Bowers, Norman “Dean” Riegle, Shirley (Clyde) Hendricks, William “Bill” Riegle, Jane (James) Borkosky, Dave Gerber and Norman Lee.
He is survived by his wife, children and sister, Maxine Gerber of Columbus, and sisters-in-law, Hope Riegle of rural Findlay, and Sandy Lee of Melbourne, Fla.
Visitation will be held at Stombaugh-Batton Funeral Home, Carey, on Wednesday, April 13, from 4-7 p.m. A funeral will be held at Christ United Methodist Church, Vanlue, on Thursday, April 14, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bob Greene officiating. Burial will follow at Zion Bloom Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Donald’s honor to The Gideon International.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.StombaughBatton.com.