ALBERT JAMES RIECKE was born on November 23, 1882 in Trinidad, California to August and Mary Helena Riecke. He was their youngest son. Bert attended elementary school in Trinidad, California where he referred to students by the term from that era as "scholars". Bert used to tell the story that his first job was giving water to the oxen used to haul timber from the woods on skids when he was barely fifteen years old. Even though of small stature, Bert worked in various lumber mills in Humboldt county: Trinidad, Riverside, Rio Dell, a mill in Fort Bragg in Mendocino county and in San Francisco.
Bert was a handsome man in his youth and had a twinkle in his eyes even into his nineties. He met his wife "Aggie" Agenite Miller while she was working in a mill cookhouse. She had a young daughter, Anita to support and her husband had died in a logging accident. Later Bert and Aggie moved to Sonoma, California where he became a carpenter. He also loved growing a large garden of vegetables and flowers. Bert, later in life, commented that he hated to see the beautiful large redwood trees processed for lumber in the mills where he worked, whereupon he joined the Save the Redwoods League.
Bert's wife Aggie died in 1960 and Bert remained in Sonoma until returning to Humboldt County in 1976. He wanted to spend his remaining days in Humboldt County and be buried next to his parents in the Trinidad cemetery. He died January 7, 1977 and was buried in the Trinidad Cemetery according to his wishes.
ALBERT JAMES RIECKE was born on November 23, 1882 in Trinidad, California to August and Mary Helena Riecke. He was their youngest son. Bert attended elementary school in Trinidad, California where he referred to students by the term from that era as "scholars". Bert used to tell the story that his first job was giving water to the oxen used to haul timber from the woods on skids when he was barely fifteen years old. Even though of small stature, Bert worked in various lumber mills in Humboldt county: Trinidad, Riverside, Rio Dell, a mill in Fort Bragg in Mendocino county and in San Francisco.
Bert was a handsome man in his youth and had a twinkle in his eyes even into his nineties. He met his wife "Aggie" Agenite Miller while she was working in a mill cookhouse. She had a young daughter, Anita to support and her husband had died in a logging accident. Later Bert and Aggie moved to Sonoma, California where he became a carpenter. He also loved growing a large garden of vegetables and flowers. Bert, later in life, commented that he hated to see the beautiful large redwood trees processed for lumber in the mills where he worked, whereupon he joined the Save the Redwoods League.
Bert's wife Aggie died in 1960 and Bert remained in Sonoma until returning to Humboldt County in 1976. He wanted to spend his remaining days in Humboldt County and be buried next to his parents in the Trinidad cemetery. He died January 7, 1977 and was buried in the Trinidad Cemetery according to his wishes.
Gravesite Details
Obituary above provided by Jeanne Riecke
Family Members
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Mary Helena "Lena" Riecke Wendler
1866–1952
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Emma Louise "Lizzie" Riecke Stewart
1867–1947
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Frederick August "Gus" Riecke
1870–1930
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Charles Alfred Riecke
1872–1903
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Amelia Caroline Riecke West
1874–1953
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Joseph Warren Riecke
1876–1903
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Dorathea Cecelia "Dora" Riecke Pitzer
1879–1942
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Gertrude Riecke
1884–1916
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Charlotte Wilhelmina "Lottie" Riecke Harrington
1887–1971
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