1923
Walter
2009
Walter Arthur "Red" Rixen
July 28, 1923 — July 26, 2009
Walter "Red" A. Rixen, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Sunday, July 26, 2009, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 29th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 - 7:00 PM Tuesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon.
Walter Arthur "Red" Rixen was born on July 28, 1923 in Harlen, IA, the son of Arthur and Ida (Scheel) Rixen. Red was baptized and confirmed at the Congregational Church in Harlan. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1941 and then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, for one year. Red then went to work in Alaska on the Alaskan Highway before serving in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1945 where he was stationed in New Guinea and drove landing craft. After the service Red went back to Upper Iowa University where he played football; graduating in 1949. On June 26, 1948 he married Helen Maxine Pagel at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sumner, IA. They moved to Waukon in 1949 where he started his teaching and coaching career. While in Waukon, Red was the head football coach where he had two teams go undefeated in 1953 and 1957. He also was the assistant boy's basketball coach and head track and field coach. In 1963 they moved to Cedar Falls, IA, where Red attended University of Northern Iowa, and he earned a masters degree in administration. Red and Helen moved to St. Ansgar where he was the high school principal and athletic director for a few years before settling in Grinnell in 1969. Red was the principal at Grinnell High School until 1980, he then took the Davis Elementary School Principal position before retiring in 1986. Red and Helen moved back to Waukon in 2002, where he has been a resident of the Good Samaritan Center.
Red was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell. He was also a member of the Grinnell Lions Club, Elks Club and was active in Poweshiek County Democratic Party events. Red was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. Red enjoyed woodworking, fishing, gardening, playing bridge and taking bus trips through out the United States. He loved his grandchildren in spite of having to travel some distance, was involved in many of their special events.
Survivors include his son, Jim (Debbie) Rixen of Waukon, IA; and 3 grandchildren, Jonathan Michael (Jenny) Rixen and their son, Cael Cetin of Minneapolis, MN, Jordan James (Erin) Rixen and their son, Flynn Walter of La Crosse, WI and Molly Helene Rixen and her fiancé Jarod Haberichter of Cedar Falls, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Helen, who died in 2006; a brother, Glen; and a sister, Dorothy Obrecht.
His grandchildren and their spouses will serve as casketbearers.
Walter Arthur "Red" Rixen was born on July 28, 1923 in Harlen, IA, the son of Arthur and Ida (Scheel) Rixen. Red was baptized and confirmed at the Congregational Church in Harlan. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1941 and then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, IA, for one year. Red then went to work in Alaska on the Alaskan Highway before serving in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1945 where he was stationed in New Guinea and drove landing craft. After the service Red went back to Upper Iowa University where he played football; graduating in 1949. On June 26, 1948 he married Helen Maxine Pagel at St. John's Lutheran Church in Sumner, IA. They moved to Waukon in 1949 where he started his teaching and coaching career. While in Waukon, Red was the head football coach where he had two teams go undefeated in 1953 and 1957. He also was the assistant boy's basketball coach and head track and field coach. In 1963 they moved to Cedar Falls, IA, where Red attended University of Northern Iowa, and he earned a masters degree in administration. Red and Helen moved to St. Ansgar where he was the high school principal and athletic director for a few years before settling in Grinnell in 1969. Red was the principal at Grinnell High School until 1980, he then took the Davis Elementary School Principal position before retiring in 1986. Red and Helen moved back to Waukon in 2002, where he has been a resident of the Good Samaritan Center.
Red was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Grinnell. He was also a member of the Grinnell Lions Club, Elks Club and was active in Poweshiek County Democratic Party events. Red was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. Red enjoyed woodworking, fishing, gardening, playing bridge and taking bus trips through out the United States. He loved his grandchildren in spite of having to travel some distance, was involved in many of their special events.
Survivors include his son, Jim (Debbie) Rixen of Waukon, IA; and 3 grandchildren, Jonathan Michael (Jenny) Rixen and their son, Cael Cetin of Minneapolis, MN, Jordan James (Erin) Rixen and their son, Flynn Walter of La Crosse, WI and Molly Helene Rixen and her fiancé Jarod Haberichter of Cedar Falls, IA. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Helen, who died in 2006; a brother, Glen; and a sister, Dorothy Obrecht.
His grandchildren and their spouses will serve as casketbearers.
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