Jeanette Riehle

Jeanette M. Riehle 84, formerly of Wausau, died peacefully on Wednesday May 6, 2026, at Strake Court Assisted Living in Conroe, Texas.

She was born June 8, 1941, in Athens, the only child of Arthur and Adela (Miller) Nowicki. Part of a multi-generational musical family, she loved playing piano accordion in the family band and giving lessons to locals. She graduated in 1959 from Athens High School and held several secretarial positions in Wausau. On July 17,1964, she married Bernard A. Riehle at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Athens. Jeanette cofounded and managed their business, Riehle Plumbing, Heating and Electric, until they divorced in 1982.

In 1983 Jeanette moved with her daughter, Tiffany, to Houston, Texas, where she tirelessly raised her, engaging in various activities. She worked for many years as a dedicated and skilled administrative assistant in healthcare.

Jeanette retired from the big city to quieter life in Conroe to pursue interests in needlecrafts, scrapbooking and fishing. She also loved music, cars, reading and baking cookies with her granddaughter, Kaylin. Jeanette lived her life with strong determination, fierce independence,and tenacious love of family, taking great pride in their successes.

Survivors include her daughter, Tiffany Colarusso; son-in-law, Todd Colarusso, and granddaughter, Kaylin Colarusso, of Atlanta, Ga.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Bernard, on May 21, 2024, The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Conroe, Texas. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the church. Jeanette will be laid to rest at Restlawn Memorial Park in Wausau at a later time.

Conroe Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. Final interment details will be available, and online condolences may be expressed, at www.conroefuneraldirectors.org In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church at https://shconroe.org/giving/ or Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Foundation Fund at https://www. mtnafoundation.org/contribute/