SPRINGFIELD, IL - John Riekstins, 70, passed away at 6:25 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at Memorial Medical Center.

John was born July 21, 1945, in Hasselhoff, Sweden, the son of Davis and Elza Riekstins.

John attended high school in Rochester, N.Y., and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1967. John worked at his brother's construction company while in high school and during college breaks. He worked at Hooker Chemical in Niagara Falls, USS Steel in lrontown, Ohio, and Borden.

He spent his last 23 years of employment at the Illinois EPA as an Environmental Protection Engineer in the permit section in the Bureau of Land.

John wrestled and played hockey while at Michigan State and became a life-long fan of Michigan State basketball and football. He was a man of many hats and enjoyed fishing, bowling, golf, swimming, biking, taking photographs and trips to visit his family in New York and Boston.

John was a friend of Bill W. for 27 years and was well known for his love of making Swedish Yellow Pea soup for potlucks.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gunars.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Riekstins of Springfield; brothers, Uldis Riekstins (Rose) of lrondiquoit, N.Y., and Vaidis Riekstins of Greece, N.Y.; nephew, Edward (Debra) and their children, Adam, Troy and Katrina from Wilmington, Mass.; nephew, Dave (Terri) and their children Stephanie, Jennifer and Amanda from Webster, N.Y.; niece, Tanya Riekstins from Greece, N.Y.; and nephew, Tom (Erin) from Norwood, Mass.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, at Laurel United Methodist Church with Reverend Kent Lolling officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Laurel United Methodist Church, 631 South Grand Ave. West, Springfield, IL 62704, or Tim Miller, MD, PhD, ALS Research at Washington University Neuromuscular, Campus Box 8111,660 South Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63110.

Ellinger-Kunz & Park Funeral Home, 530 N. 5th St., Springfield, IL 62702, is in charge of arrangements.

Visit our online obituary at www.ellingerkunzfuneralhome.com.