Oliver Emil Riekkola went home to meet his Savior on August 11, 2015 at Grays Harbor Health and Rehabilitation Center, Aberdeen. He was born in Aberdeen on June 30, 1934, the son of Emil and Hannah (Luotonen) Riekkola.
Oliver attended McDermoth Grade School, Miller Junior High and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1953. He received a degree in Education from Western Washington State College, Bellingham. He went to Moclips, teaching at Moclips/North Beach High School for thirty years.
He played basketball and baseball throughout high school and college. He was also an avid steelhead fisherman and loved to fish from the bank with his sons Reg and Randy and life-long friend Harold Bergstrom.
Oliver coached both junior high and high school sports, but favored varsity golf and summer baseball.
He owned a dump truck and a backhoe and did summer jobs to stipend his teaching salary for his family of 6. In 1987, he and his sons formed Riekkola Construction. They primarily built logging roads for many years before Oliver retired in 1999. He spent much of his retirement pursuing the return of American POWS and received an award from the US Marine Corps for his efforts.
Oliver is survived by his wife of 60 years, Colleen, at the family home in Aberdeen. He is also survived by a daughter Karen and son-in-law Doug Hussey, Poulsbo, WA; a son Reginald, Moclips, and a son Randolph and his wife, Stephani, Moclips; granddaughters: Krista, Rebecca, Rylee and Caylynne; and grandsons: Stan Crise and Christopher and Benjamin Poths; and numerous cousins living in Finland. He was preceded in death by his parents and also a daughter, Teresa Poths.
A celebration of Oliver’s life will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday, August 22nd at Immanuel Baptist Church, Hoquiam. Pastor Mark Eaton of the Pacific Beach Community Church, will officiate. A reception will follow at the church. Inurnment will have taken place in Fern Hill Cemetery, Aberdeen.
A card of condolence with a message or a memory for the family may be sent at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home, 2208 Roosevelt St., Aberdeen.