Joseph Rieger, Jr.

Stephentown – Joseph Rieger, Jr., 84, of Garfield Road, Stephentown, NY, died on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at his residence. Born in Brooklyn, NY, on February 9, 1928, he was the son of the late Joseph and Anna Liedecker Rieger. He was the loving husband of the former Ruth M. Sweener, whom he married on August 30, 1952 at the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon, NY. They have lived in the Stephentown area since 1953.
Joe attended schools in Brooklyn and in Baldwin, L. I. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1944 and enlisted in the United States Army in 1946. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal before serving in the Army Reserves. He was employed for many years at Pittsfield Supply in Pittsfield, MA. He attended HVCC in Troy, NY, studying refrigeration. Joe was employed by Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Pittsfield as a serviceman, retiring in 1991. He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon where he was also a member of the Church choir. Joe belonged to many organizations including the American Legion Post #1236 in New Lebanon since 1953; he was a 54-year member of the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, serving as Fire Commissioner and on the Fire Police, a 35-year member of the Stephentown Boy Scout Troop #518, serving as Scoutmaster,  a member of the Stephentown Historical Society, the Knights of Columbus #9639 of New Lebanon and the Veterans of the Stephentown area.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ruth, his children, Joseph A. and wife Pam Rieger of Canaan, NY, Lorraine M. and husband Donald Vincent of New Lebanon, Stephanie A. and husband Donald DiCarlo and Michael and wife Heather Rieger, all of Stephentown, Matthew and wife Rosa Rieger of Austin, TX, Ruth Ann Frambach of New Lebanon and Maria and husband Ed Overcash of Ft. Mill, SC, his brother, Francis Rieger of Bayonet Point, FL, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by siblings, Rose Kehoe, Audrey Hager and Joan B. Sweener.
A Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial was celebrated by Rev. John Close on Thursday, February 23, at 11 am in the Immaculate Conception Church, 732 Route 20, New Lebanon. Burial followed in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Stephentown.
Relatives and friends were invited to the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm for visitation.
Memorial contributions in loving memory of Joseph Rieger, Jr. may be made to the Parkinsons Disease & Movement Disorder Center, Attn: Dr. Eric Molho, Physicians Pavilion, 1st Floor, MC 70, 47 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY, 12208 or to the charity of one’s choice.