Bill Riekert, 65, of Idyllwild, died of a sudden and unexpected case of meningitis Friday, Oct. 28, 2005 while vacationing in Costa Rica.

Mr. Riekert was born Dec. 6, 1939, raised in New York, and worked in the textile industry which brought him to Palm Springs 20 years ago.

After a short time living at Lake Hemet, Mr. Riekert moved to Idyllwild full-time five years ago where he volunteered his time primarily for the Idyllwild Rotary Club and the Associates of Idyllwild Arts.

Mr. Riekert’s joyful and giving spirit will be missed by many here in Idyllwild.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Silver Pines Lodge.

Mr. Riekert is survived by a daughter, Darcie Bakhouche and two grandchildren, Evan and Alec of Utah; and a son, Roth Riekert of Connecticut.

Similar Posts

  • Obituary: Elsie S. Adelson

    By Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Former Idyllwild resident Elsie S. Adelson died Oct. 16, 2010, in Lake Forest, Calif., of natural causes. She was 92. Born Elsie Scharfstein on Aug. 31, 1918, in New York City, she was the middle daughter of Anna Seidman and Abraham Scharfstein, who together raised three children. Adelson graduated from New York’s Hunter College in…

  • Obituary: Stephanie ‘Stefi’ Marianne Chase

    By Reading Time: 4 minutes

    “Magic is the hearth where the welcome-fire burns — where joy lifts a beacon in the gathering night,” wrote Stephanie “Stefi” Marianne Chase, a published and prolific poet who fell deeply in love with Idyllwild, writing fondly about the mountains throughout the half-century she lived here. Stefi died about 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, 2005,…

  • Obituary: Raydean E. Mahler

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Raydean E. Mahler, 74, of Irvine and Idyllwild, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001. Mr. Mahler served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict and then graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. In 1959 he joined the family business, Surveyors Service Co. of Costa Mesa. He retired as president…

  • Life Tribute Marjorie Mae Kossler 1948-2019

    By Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Marjorie Kossler lost her courageous four-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer on Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. Marjorie found her roots in the desert where she served the City of Palm Springs as administrative secretary for the Palm Springs Airport from 1984 to 2014. An avid traveler with a passion for adventure, Marjorie’s ventures took her not…

  • Obituary: Bruce F. Townsend

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Bruce F. Townsend, 86, of Hemet, died of natural causes Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at Hemet Valley HealthCare Center. Mr. Townsend was born Nov. 10, 1914 in Hollenberg, Kan. He belonged to the National Guard in Greeley, Colo. from 1931 to 1936. Mr. Townsend received his bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Northern…