James H. Nieman

NIEMAN, DEWITT, JASPERS, BROWN

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 15:54:31

James H. Nieman, 79, of Shell Rock, Iowa, died Monday, November 10, 2008, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community where he had lived since July of 2008.

He was born on January 30, 1929, in rural Shell Rock, Iowa, the son of William & Alida (DeWitt) Nieman.

He was baptized on May 26, 1929 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Clarksville, and confirmed in 1946 at the Shell Rock United Methodist Church. He attended Center Valley Rural School, near Shell Rock, and then the Shell Rock High School, graduating in 1946. On November 25, 1950 he was united in marriage to Lillian Marie Jaspers at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. From 1949 until 1951 he worked at Renning Hardware in Shell Rock, and in March of 1951 he entered the US Army where he served until September of that year, being discharged because of his father's ill health. For the next three years he hauled milk for the Shell Rock Creamery and worked the family farm. In 1954 he began his career with the US Postal Service serving as the rural Mail Carrier in Shell Rock from 1954 to 1971, and in Allison until 1987 when he retired. Jim then served as the caretaker for the Riverside Cemetery, Shell Rock, until 2002. Lillian died on September 18, 1991.

He was a longtime member of the Methodist Church, a 50 year member of the Iowa Rural Letter Carriers, was a longtime member of the Lion's Club in Shell Rock, and was a member of the American Legion and Amvets. He loved to bowl, fish, polka, and especially enjoyed his winter trips to Florida.

Jim is survived by his son: James "Chuck" (Karen) Nieman of Shell Rock; two grandchildren, Clint Nieman of Denver, Colorado, Kelsey Nieman of Shell Rock; one sister, Janice (Paul) Brown of Waterloo, and by a host of nieces, nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Lillian.

Funeral services will be 10:30 am on Friday, November 14, 2008 at Heritage United Methodist Church, Waverly, with Pastor Moody Colorado officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in the Riverside Cemetery, Shell Rock.

Visitation will be held on Thursday at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home, Shell Rock, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm where there will be a time of sharing at 7:00 pm.

Visitation will also be on Friday at the church for one hour prior to the services.

Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation.