Frank Ries, 83, of Hopkinton, died Sunday, February 1, 2026, at St. Luke’s Hospital Cedar Rapids.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 Saturday morning, February 7, 2026, at St. Luke Catholic Church, Hopkinton. Interment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery, Masonville at a later date. Visitation will be held from 4 until 7 Friday at St. Luke Catholic Church and again from 9:00 until 10:45 on Saturday. Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello has taken Frank and his family into their care.
Surviving is his wife Cheryl, 3 step-children, Kyla (Jeff) Lenz, Janelle (Kyle) Walton, Brent (Jazz) Husmann, his grandchildren, Parker (Melissa) Shakespear, Laisee (Lance Miller) Shakespear, Kess Walton, Kyce (Jacob) Mahr, Dalton (Beth) Husmann, Jabezz (Taylor) Huisman, great-grandchildren, Knox, Kolt, Kipton, Kyden, Koden and 2 on the way. His siblings and in-laws, John (Ruth) Ries, Mary (Ralph) Brown, Joann Kruse, Kathy (Jerry) Becker, Ed (Eileen) Ries, Janet Thomas, Merle (Sue) Ries, Marge (Larry) Gaul, Gerry Ries and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents, and siblings and in-laws, Bill (Elsie) Ries, Charles Ries, Wally (Rita) Ries, Fred (Sandy) Ries, Martin Kruse.
Francis Clarence Ries was born March 3, 1942, in Dyersville, Iowa, the son of Alphones and Gertrude Kramer, Ries. Frank started farming at a young age after his father became ill. He has lived for 80 years on the same farm. He also drove truck for DD Trucking and Kevin Kramer Trucking. Frank married Cheryl Henderson, on August 4, 1984, at the United Methodist Church in Manchester.
Frank was a member of the Hopkinton Lions Club for 54 years, was a charter member of the Hopkinton Knights of Columbus and served on the Pork Producers Board.
In his youth he enjoyed coon hunting, trail rides, showing quarter horses, taking his Percheron team on Wagon train rides.
Most of all he was a proud Papa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a quiet man that led by example.
