FLANAGAN – Tjark E. Rients, 85, of Flanagan, died at 5 a.m. Wednesday (March 16, 2011) at Good Samaritan Home, Flanagan.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Petri Lutheran Church, Flanagan, with the Rev. Paul Lellelid officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in St. Petri Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service Saturday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Petri Lutheran Church. Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, Flanagan, is in charge of arrangements.

Tjark was born March 8, 1926, in rural Minonk, Woodford County, the son of Henry R. and Nannie M. Eilers Rients. He married Mary A. Clark Baker on Jan. 22, 1956, in Chenoa. She died Aug. 28, 2005.

Surviving are four daughters, Colleen Bagley, Joliet; Karen (Jerry) Deville, Bothell, Wash.; Judy (Randy) Ellis, Eureka; and Donita (Brian) Curtis, Edwardsville; a son, Donald (Theresa) Rients, Benson; 21 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and three sisters-in-law, Elaine Rients, Joann Clark and Betty Glenn Clark.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James Baker; two brothers, John T. Rients and Norman Rients; a sister, Elise Oltman; brother-in-law, Melvin Oltman; sister-in-law, Evelyn Rients; a son-in-law, Robert Bagley; and a great-grandson, Christian Baker.

Tjark was a member of St. Petri Lutheran Church, where he served twice on the church board.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of Flanagan American Legion Post 456.

He farmed in the area until his retirement in 1982.