Riley M. Olmstead, age 10 of Clinton passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026 following a brave, hard 4-year battle with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. A Celebration of Life for Riley will take place from 2:00 to 5:00 pm on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Bluff Elementary School, 1421 South Bluff Blvd. in Clinton. The Pape Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Riley was born in Phoenix, Arizona on October 6, 2015, the son of Jason and Tracy (Bamman) Olmstead. He was a third-grade student at Bluff Elementary School where his favorite subject was art. Riley loved drawing, cooking, playing outdoors, and animals, especially penguins and snow leopards. Minecraft and Roblox were his favorites and he loved chicken wing movie nights. He was always up for telling and playing jokes on everyone. Riley loved spending time with his grandma Kathy cooking and grandpa Steve working in his garage. He was a curious and inquisitive little boy who was interested in learning about everything. He was a friend to everyone he met.
Riley is survived by his parents Jason and Tracy Olmstead; grandparents, Steve and Kathy Bamman of Clinton, Linda Moyer of Clinton; uncles, Joe (Jenna) Olmstead of Clinton and Justin Olmstead of Camanche; aunts, Jamie (Jared) Wolfe of Phoenix and Jessica (Takashi) Fujiwara of Clinton, his special friends John Lauritzen, Abby Albrechtsen, support stuffy Snowey and his dog Charlie. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Vern Olmstead and an uncle Kevin Bamman. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online condolences may be left at www.papefh.com.
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Im so sorry that Rileys little sole had to endure and go through so much. May he be at peace. Thinking of you all.
From the moment Riley and I became buddies in kindergarten I knew he was a special boy. I will cherish all our memories and laughs we shared forever! He was so loved! I have to find peace in knowing his little body is healed now and he no longer has to fight. Thinking of you all and here for anything you may need.
Prayers for peace and comfort to Riley’s family. The love and care expressed within this family has been nothing short of inspiring. I’m profoundly sorry for your loss. I hope there is some comfort in memories and the knowledge that you were all there with and for him every moment of every day.
Riley touched my heart in so many ways as I received pictures and updates from his grandmother, Kathy. Although I never met him in person, through pictures, anecdotes and just knowing the stamina and fight he had in him, I was touched deeply and will continue to hold him in my heart.
I will never forget the first day I met Riley. I remember being so nervous, practically shaking as I walked out to meet you, worried that I wouldn’t know how to handle his wheel or that I might somehow hurt him. I remember promising he was in good hands all while my heart was racy. But that day, Riley became my teacher. He played a Wonderful joke on me, and in that moment, all my fear vanished. He taught me that he wasn’t defined by his chair, he was defined by his humor, his spirit, and his beautiful heart. Every time I see him in the hallway afterward and he’d remind me of that joke, it was a reminder of the lesson he gave me: to always look past the hardware and see the incredible masterpiece inside. Riley didn’t just have a great day with me, he changed the way I see every student I work with. He was, and always will be, my favorite snow leopard.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to Riley’s family, friends, Bluff family. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
To the family of Riley Olmstead: I did not know Riley or your family, but having taught for 38+ years and having lost several of my former students, it is always such a tragedy to lose a young person. Know that I will keep you, his friends, and teachers for the next year. Know that one day you will be together with him again. Meanwhile, God will hold him in his arms and he will know no more pain. God bless you all and help you through this dark time in your lives.
Jon, Purl, Troy, Logan, and Carley Weber
Hazelwood, MO (Formerly of Camanche and Clinton.)
Riley was such a blessing to have worked with since Kindergarten. Absolutely the toughest kid I’ve had the pleasure knowing! Tracy, Jason, Kathy & Steve please know my heart is with you all, you all have endured this journey with Riley and I pray that you’re able to find comfort knowing he has been restored to full health and is free of pain and sickness in Heaven, watching over all of you that cares for him so well ????