John Eugene Riley
Obituary

Riley (as he is popularly known) passed away peacefully September 2, 2026 at his home in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 88. 

Riley‘s life began in St. Louis Missouri. His mother, Beatrice passed away when he was three. He and his sister, Billie Jean were raised by their grandparents, John and Elizabeth Riley. His uncles, John, James, and Ernie became his brothers as they grew up together. 

Riley was inducted in the US Army as a radio engineer, teaching many about operations and communications. After the army he worked for his grandfather at Riley Electric, an electrical contractor in St. Louis before moving to Seattle for work as an electrician building the first Boeing Everett Factory. From there he moved to San Francisco, to work as an electrician building the Bank of America building. 

San Francisco, CA was the place where he became an artist. Riley worked in multiple mediums, wood, metal , paint, photography, to name a few. Many of Riley‘s art pieces are located throughout Europe and the US, including by several famous people met along their journeys. Riley was selected by a California promoter to join the “World of Art Tour”, traveling the United States and Canada setting up art shows every weekend.

 Riley and Nancy met in the early 70s in Scottsdale, AZ. They traveled doing shows and direct selling of his artwork. Their travels throughout the United States was their “Gypsy” era. Riley and Nancy married July 6, 1991 in Algoma, Wisconsin making their home there for several years before returning to Phoenix, Arizona. 

Riley was preceded in death by his mother, grandparents, sister Billie Jean and brother Charles. His uncles who he called his brothers as they grew up together John, James, and Ernie and his mother in law “mammalet” Kathryn Zastrow, whom he adored!

Riley is survived by his wife, Nancy, sister and brother-in-law‘s, Donna (Danny-deceased) Zastrow, Dr. Leona (Daniel-deceased) Zastrow, Gene Zastrow, Pat (Diane) Zastrow, Chuck (Ellen -deceased) Siebold, Harry (Roxann) Zastrow, Tim (Cheryl) Zastrow, Mike (Sue) Zastrow, Luke (Natalie) Zastrow, Mary (Wayne) Zastrow-Worachek, Mark (Pam) Zastrow, and Goddaughter Lindsey Zastrow. And many Riley cousins.