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Frazee family plans soldier’s funeral
Published 12:00 p.m., March 26, 2007
As a Frazee family makes funeral arrangements for their fallen soldier, they remember their son and brother, Sgt. Greg N. Riewer, 28, as a quiet man who could always make others smile.
Riewer, a member of A Co., 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry died Friday in combat. While conducting a mounted patrol, soldiers of A Company encountered an improvised explosive device (IED) near Fallujah, at about 5:30 p.m. Iraq time, according to the Minnesota National Guard. The IED detonated near Riewer’s vehicle, killing him. Three other Minnesota National Guard Soldiers were reported injured in the incident. Their names were not immediately released.
“We’re not granting interviews right now,” Riewer’s sister, Amy, said. “We’re going to be putting together a press release real soon.”
A 1997 graduate of Frazee High School, Riewer was one of 13 children of Richard and Jan Riewer, Frazee, including a brother who is serving in the same company, said Maj. Patricia Baker, a Guard spokeswoman. Riewer served in Bosnia and both he and his brother, Staff Sgt. Andrew Riewer, were sent to Iraq together last year, Baker said.
Through the National Guard, Greg’s father shared these thoughts about his son: “He always made me smile. I loved calling him ‘smiley.’ … Greg didn't say much but would smile to let you know he loved you … Greg's brother, Andy, was a huge inspiration to him. They were truly best friends ... Greg enjoyed spending time with his nieces and nephews. They were the apple of his eye … I will miss him horribly.”
Greg also loved baseball, basketball, football, riding his motorcycle and hunting with his family.
“The loss of Sgt. Riewer is a tragedy,” Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito, the adjutant general of Minnesota, said in a statement. “He was proudly serving his state and nation in a combat zone when he was taken from us. It is with a heavy heart that I once again ask the citizens of Minnesota to remember this soldier and his family in their prayers.”
Funeral arrangements are pending with Furey Funeral Home in Frazee.
Fifty-four people with strong Minnesota ties have died in connection with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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The Associated Press contributed information to this article.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by jwench01 (anonymous) on March 26, 2007 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My deepest condolences to Richard, Jan and the entire Riewer family at the loss of Greg...Smiley was a great nick for him;its what i remember most about him..that and his beautiful eyes..Know that my heart is with you all...Jeanne
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