George A. Riebeling, 83, of Columbia, a prominent retired farmer and public official, 
died December 28, 2005, in Waterloo at the Monroe County Care and Rehabilitation 
Center. He was born August 23, 1922, in Columbia, the son of the late George C. and 
Eva T. Riebeling nee Schneider. He married Dorothy Riebeling nee Taake in 1946. 

Mr. Riebeling is survived by his wife; daughters Cheryl (Norman) Hooten of Murphysboro, 
Janet (Dennis) Trost of Waterloo, and Judy (Tom) Garleb of Valmeyer; grandchildren Karen 
Kuppler, Theresa Holly, Justin Garleb and Julia Garleb; great-grandchildren Grant Kuppler, 
Abigail Kuppler and Trey Holly; sister Dorothy Schaefer; and other relatives and friends. He 
was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mildred Ramsey.

Mr. Riebeling was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Columbia. He was a retired 
grain and livestock farmer. He was a member of Columbia Blue Lodge #474 AF & AM, Monroe 
Service Co. Board, Columbia Unit 4 School Board, Monroe County Zoning Board of Appeals, 
Monroe County Fair Association, Waterloo Sportsman’s Club, State Fair Inspector, Monroe 
County Pork Producers, Monroe County Polled Hereford Association, Order of the Eastern Star, 
and he was a Shriner. 

After retiring from farming, Mr. Riebeling served with distinction as the coordinator of the Monroe 
County Emergency Management Agency for many years. During his tenure as head of the Monroe 
County EMA, Mr. Riebeling headed up the local response to the Flood of 1993. His leadership 
drew widespread praise from local, state and federal officials. Officials from the Illinois EMA held 
up Riebeling’s efforts in Monroe County as a model for other counties to emulate. He was called 
upon several times to speak at seminars and workshops about his experiences with the flood.  

Visitation was at Lawlor Funeral Home. Funeral services were at St. Paul United Church of Christ 
in Columbia, Pastor Bob Goddard and Rev. Bill Groennert officiating. He is buried at Evangelical 
St. Paul Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 4-H 
Foundation, Hospice of Southern Illinois, or the Monroe County Care and Rehabilitation Center.