Renate Gertrude Rieck

March 24, 1945 – May 20, 2025

Renate “Brenda” Rieck was born on March 24, 1945, in Wiesbaden, Germany. In war torn Germany at the end of World War II, Renate’s mother was not able to care for all her children. Renate and her two brothers went to live in an orphanage. In 1954, Colonel Carlton and Barbara Bruce, stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base, were looking to adopt a child and chose Renate. The story goes that Renate stood on a chair, raised her hand, and shouted, “Pick me! I am the best!” They lived on the Air Force Base for a few years before returning to the United States and settling in Omaha, Nebraska. After the untimely death of Colonel Bruce in 1958 and Barbara Bruce in 1960, Renate went to live with her aunt and uncle.

Though she had many challenges in her younger years, Renate was strong and went on to graduate from Omaha South High School in 1964 and Nursing School in 1966. She embarked on a 35-year career in nursing, working at Lutheran General and Clarkson Hospitals. With her first marriage, Renate was blessed with three children: David Marshall, Christopher Michael and Barbara Elizabeth. On May 14, 1987, she was united in marriage to Laurel Rieck, and they spent 36 wonderful years together.

Renate was a very caring and thoughtful woman. Her work as a nurse and the wonderful care she showed her patients was unsurpassed. Every patient was special to her. She always provided individual goodie bags of cakes, cookies and candy for her patients on the holidays, especially at Christmas.

Renate loved to cook and entertain. Some of her special dishes were Flank Steak, Chicken Curry, Beef Stragonoff, Spanakopita, Baklava and Cream Puffs. She also loved tending to her flowers and plants, taking annual trips to Adventureland with her children and grandchildren and watching Pery Mason.

But her favorite passion of all were the Holidays. No matter the holiday - Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween or Thanksgiving, the house was always decorated and family traditions were observed, which her children carry on to this day. Christmas was the most special holiday of all starting with the German St. Nick’s Day. Her children have fond memories of the annual Christmas party, baking Christmas cutout cookies, having a Christmas Tree in every room, the roaring fire and the soft glow from the red and green votive candles lining the fireplace mantel. She always made Christmas a truly special and magical time.

Renate was preceded in death by her husband, Laurel Rieck; parents, Colonel Carlton and Barbara Bruce; and brother, Henry Moore. She is survived by her children, David (Angelia) Hughes, Christopher (Michele) Hughes, and Barbara (Aaron) Birdeno; stepchildren, Loren (Norma) Rieck, Lori (Steve) Classen, and Melissa Cerny; grandchildren, Tricia, Alexandra, Creighton, Taylor, Abigail, Analiesa, Jayden and Brianna; step grandchildren, Damian, Dominik, Karissa, Nicholas, Kaiden, Shaunee, Clay, Blake and Levi; great grandchildren River and Sawyer; grandchildren-in-law Erica (Jared) and Jenna; great grandchildren-in-law Elias and Cora; brother, Robert Bruce and many other family and friends.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home. Interment will be at 12:30 PM at Omaha National Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard.

https://www.nebraskanursehonorguard.org/donate