Jack Riehm died at the age of 91 at the Pershing General Hospital in Lovelock, Nevada, on December 30, 2022.
A self-described small-town boy, Jack was devoted to his parents Rex and Julia Riehm, and his little sister, Margaret (Riehm) Betschart.
Jack was born in Lovelock and grew up in Northern Nevada and Eastern California during the Great Depression and World War II, graduating from Pershing County High School in 1949.
Jack served in the Air National Guard out of several Western and Southern Air Force bases, including Ft. George in Victorville, California, in the early 1950s as the Korean War was winding down.
While serving in Austin, Texas, Jack was trained in basic mechanics and helped maintain equipment and facilities at the air bases during active duty.
Jack met his fiancee, Beryl Dees, in Sparks, Nevada, and they were married in 1952. Jack was a devoted family man, generous with his time and help.
He worked hard to support his family, starting as a laborer in Reno for the Sierra Pacific Power Company (NV Energy) in 1955. Jack worked as a lineman, foreman, and troubleman for 40 years, retiring from the Power Company in 1995.
He kept himself and the rest of the crew safe every day (and during wet winter nights sometimes) in a demanding, risky, and dangerous line of work.
As a lineman, he helped construct a trans-Sierra supply line for the Portola, California, district and installed backup generating capacity for a more reliable power supply during the winter months.
Jack volunteered for the Portola and Lovelock fire departments and worked with the Forest Service during the summer months in the 1960s, risking his life fighting the forest fires that blackened the skies at that time.
He transferred to Lovelock in 1969 as foreman/troubleman for the Sierra Pacific and obtained his emergency medical technician license working on the ambulance soon after.
Known as Smokey Bear for his low voice, he was beloved by his coworkers.
Jack supported his community and served on the Lovelock city council for three terms.
He also served on the local hospital board and was proud of his work accomplishments for Pershing General Hospital.
He also volunteered at Lovelock Frontier Days, where he helped set up and played at the cribbage table. He served as treasurer in the Lovelock fire department.
He obtained his pyrotechnic safety license and helped set up the fireworks for Fourth of July celebrations. Jack also owned a fire extinguisher business after retiring from the Power Company.
Jack was an avid sports hunter and gun advocate, with a life-long membership in the National Rifle Association.
As an active member of the local gun club, he helped organize and maintain the shooting range in Lovelock.
He hunted well into his eighties, with hunting trips to Colorado and Africa that he just loved to talk about.
Jack is survived by his three sons, Martin, George, and Mark Riehm, their spouses, Tom Seidner and Kelly Green, his four grandchildren, Kylee, Jesse, Chandler, and Trevor, and four great grandchildren, Saralynn, Payden, Kemper, and Zoe Riehm.
He was predeceased by his grandson Jordan and his ex-wife Beryl Riehm. He is loved and remembered fondly and will be missed by his family and his many friends in Lovelock and Portola.
Donations to the Lovelock Fire Department are encouraged in lieu of flowers. Funeral services in Lovelock will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 11:00 AM, Tuesday, January 10. Interment will follow at the Big Meadow Cemetery.
