Mary Helen Rieke John

Mary Helen Rieke John, 86, of Shawnee, Kansas, passed away peacefully at her home on January 27, 2009.

Mary Helen was born November 19, 1922 at the A.C. Rieke family home place in Shawnee. A lifelong resident of Shawnee, Mary Helen graduated from St. Joseph High School. She married Gordon F. John on February 7, 1945. She and Gordon owned and operated businesses in Turner, Kansas, and then settled in Shawnee in 1957.

In 1962, Mary Helen opened a liquor store that she owned and operated for 32 years until 1994. She loved to dance the polka and jitterbug. Mary Helen loved her garden and her porch swings, especially the one at her lake cabin. She loved her family and was a wonderful mom and grandma. Her infectious laugh and ornery sense of humor will be missed by everyone.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Gordon F. John in 1990. She is survived by son Randall P. John, Lenexa, Kansas; daughter Nancy Friberg Lambert, Baldwin City, Kansas; daughter-in-law Geri John; and son-in-law Wayne Lambert; five granddaughters, Julie Anderson, Lowell, Arkansas; Kelley Friberg, Miami, Florida; Jennifer John, Marina Del Rey, California; Stacy John, Lenexa, Kansas; Jessica John, Lenexa, Kansas; and one great-granddaughter. She is also survived by three sisters, Margaret Peters, Olathe, Kansas; Florence Soetaert, Overland Park, Kansas; Patricia Lynch, Shawnee, Kansas; and two brothers, Paul Rieke, and John Rieke, both of Lenexa, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities.

Visitation and Funeral Service

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 AM on Saturday, January 31, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be Friday, January 30, 2008 from 5 to 7 PM at the Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee where a Rosary will be recited at 5 PM. Burial will be at Resurrection Cemetery.