Julie Riesenberg, 64 of Carroll, died early Monday morning, March 25, 2024 at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Nancy Lemker, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Choir, and Kayla Riesenberg. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Kim Potthoff. Gift Bearers will be Grace Bryant, Sophie Theulen, Piper Theulen, and Paisley Theulen. Eucharistic Minister will be Sandy Theulen. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Kyler Bryant, Jackson Bryant, Nicolas Riesenberg, Blake Riesenberg, John Riesenberg, Jason Riesenberg, Ryan Riesenberg, Stephen Riesenberg, Joseph Riesenberg, Andrew Riesenberg, Levi Riesberg, and Justin Riesberg. Casket Bearers will be Chance Cleveland, Eli Cleveland, Tory Feldman, DJ Coberly, Robby Coberly, Jake Polito, and Pete Potthoff. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Auburn.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Following the Wake Service, a service will be held by the Calhoun County Nursing Honor Guard. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for St. Anthony Cancer Center.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Julie’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Julie Ann Riesenberg was born on June 19, 1959, the daughter of Robert and Jean (Reinhart) Potthoff. Julie grew up in Halbur, Iowa and attended St. Augustine grade school. She also attended Kuemper Catholic High school where she met the love of her life at the age of 14, Randy. She graduated in the class of 1977. After high school, she moved to Omaha, Ne and studied nursing at Methodist College. She graduated in May of 1980 as a registered nurse. Randy and Julie were united in marriage on August 23, 1980 and built their forever home on a farm outside of Mount Carmel, Iowa. She began her nursing career at St. Anthony Regional Hospital on a Medical Surgical Unit. They welcomed their first born, Travis in 1981. In 1984, they welcomed their second child, Ashley. She continued her career at Carroll Area Nursing Services. Julie was hired as a Safety Manager in 1988 for Farmland Foods in Carroll, Iowa. In 1990, they completed their family with the birth of Abby.
In 2002, she continued her career as Safety Manager at Farmland Foods in Denison, Iowa. In 2008, she advanced to Regional Safety Manager and then retired in April 2023 as a Corporate Regional Safety Director for Smithfield Foods.
Julie was very involved in her community. She was a co-chair for Relay for Life, member of Christ Renews His Parish and Good Shephard Parish, and was a board member of Iowa Gov Safety Council.
Julie had many hobbies. She absolutely loved spending time with her husband, children, and nine grandchildren, who she completely adored. She enjoyed walking with her dog, Charlie, through Grant Park in Auburn, Iowa. She loved the outdoors and being on the farm with her husband Randy. Some of her favorite things to do were sitting on the deck soaking up the sunshine, birdwatching, gardening, hitting golf balls, reading sappy love stories, watching movies, and working in her “She Shed.” Julie loved to travel with her friends and family, listening to live music, and showing off her signature dance moves.
Julie enjoyed being retired where she picked up some new hobbies such as pickleball, riding horses with her grandkids and sister, Lois, and enjoying quiet mornings on the deck having coffee with Randy. The winter months were her time to sit by the fireplace and catch up on scrapbooking.
Julie was so full of joy and loved to laugh. She made God a priority in her life and loved the Lord with all her heart. She turned to Him to thank Him for all the wonderful blessings in her life and also during the most difficult times, including her battles with cancer. Her faith, prayer life, and listening to Christian music soothed her in the hardest moments and we know she is up in heaven laughing and dancing with Jesus.
Julie is survived by the love of her life, Randy Riesenberg; their 3 children: Travis (Jessica) Riesenberg of Clarinda, IA, Ashley Bryant of Elkhorn, NE, and Abby (Bobby) Theulen of Blair, NE; her 9 wonderful grandchildren; Nicolas, Blake, and John Riesenberg, Kyler, Jackson, and Grace Bryant, Piper, Sophie, and Paisley Theulen;her mother, Jean (Urban) Knobbe, her siblings: Kim (Karen) Potthoff, Alan Potthoff, Sue (Dave) Coberly, Lisa (Bill) Polito, Lois (Brian) Potthoff, brother in laws: Larry (Carolyn) Riesenberg, Gary (Tammy) Riesenberg, Bob (Linda) Riesenberg, sister in laws: Deb (Ed) Henningsen, Diane (Alan) Brincks, Amy (Paul) Riesberg-Lovermi, Kathy (Darin) Reid, and many nieces and nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Julie is preceded in death by her father, Robert Potthoff; parents in law Alvin and Donna Riesenberg; brother-in-law David (Murdock) Riesenberg; sister-in-law Carol Riesenberg; sister-in-law Jenny Potthoff; and unborn angel grandbabies.
