Clarence “Bud” Riha

Saturday, September 30, 2023 6:53 am

Clarence “Bud” Riha, 74, of Harpers Ferry, IA, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin, with Fr. Nick Radloff and Deacon Jim Zajicek officiating. Burial will be at Bohemian National Cemetery, rural Protivin. Friends may greet the family from 9 a.m. until time of services at the church on Wednesday. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Clarence “Bud” Stanley Riha was born Nov. 2, 1948, in Decorah, the son of Clarence Sr. and Verena (Schneberger) Riha. He graduated from Rudolphinum High School in Protivin in 1967. After high school, he moved to Cedar Rapids, IA, to live with his sister Betty. Bud worked odd jobs until he landed his forever job at Western Electric in Cedar Rapids, where he worked until he retired.

He met Sandi Vopava at a drawing in Protivin. On their first date, they walked through a cemetery to a party, where he told her he would marry her someday. On September 18, 1971, Bud and Sandi were married at Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin and lived in Cedar Rapids until 2008. They moved to Waukon and then finally to Harpers Ferry, IA.

Bud enjoyed visiting and sharing stories with family and friends. He enjoyed tinkering in the garage, helping people out, and giving them a hard time. He liked fishing and boating on the Mississippi as well. Bud also enjoyed sitting on his deck, watching the people and cars go by. He loved the show “Gunsmoke” and being the Chief Officer of the Golf Cart Police.

Survivors include his loving wife Sandi of Harpers Ferry; his daughter Lori of Marion; a sister Betty Nierling of Cedar Rapids; a brother-in-law Ron Fritz of Protivin; his mother-in-law Lorraine Vopava of Protivin; five sisters-in-law: Susan Hayek of Decorah and Sharon (Jim) Panos of Protivin, Mary (Gordy Snitker) Moen of Decorah, LouAnn (Matt) Collins of Wis., and Roberta (Gary) Swestka of Protivin; and many amazing nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister-in-law Stan and Bette Riha; a sister Mary Fritz; a brother-in-law Jerry Nierling; his father-in-law Robert Vopava; and nephew Monty Riha.

Honorary urnbearers are Aaron and Chad Fritz, Mac and Mitch Nierling, Lynn Panos, Billy and Bobby Swestka. Urnbearers are Dustin Panos and Mark Nierling