Louis Rieser

Louis Martin Rieser, (Lou), 91, died Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at home in Durango, Colo. A memorial gathering will be Saturday, August 3, 2013, in Carbondale, Colo. (exact location to be determined). Lou was born April 18, 1922, in Manhattan, N.Y., the son of Louis and Helen Rieser. He grew up in both New Jersey and New York State. After high school, he attended Cornell University for two years. Lou enlisted at the onset of World War II, and ended up as a waist gunner in B24s, flying 35 missions over northern Italy, the Rhineland and the Baltics with the Army Air Corps. After the War, he graduated from farrier school at Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, Calif., and married Winifred Marie Wills on July 11, 1950, in Solvang, Calif. He worked as a golf course greens keeper in Santa Ynez, Calif., then moved to Bishop, Calif., to work as director of maintenance for the school district. Lou retired and moved to Galesteo, N.M., in 1987 until Winifred’s passing in 2001. He then moved to Carbondale, Colo., in 2002 to be close to his family. His last move was to Durango in 2011. Lou's love for horses, ranching, the out of doors, fishing and eventually golf at the age of 8o, kept him going right up to his death. He inspired those around him with his wisdom, humor and simple life style. He is survived by two sons, Steve Rieser (spouse: Sandy) of Durango and Michael Rieser of Los Barriles, Mexico, grandchildren: Kelly Hill of Durango, Louis Fernando Villagomez of California, Terra Rieser and Grady Stevens both of Craig, Colo. He was preceded in death by his wife Winifred.