Niehus, Walter J. 1925-2004

NIEHUS, DEITERMAN, ROLFES

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/18/2009 at 18:06:17

LE MARS, Iowa -- Walter J. "Wally" Niehus, 78, of Le Mars died Wednesday, June 16, 2004, at his residence with his family at his side following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. Andrew Hoffmann officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Le Mars. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a Knights of Columbus rosary at 7 p.m. and a Scriptural wake service at 8 p.m., at Feuerstein Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Walter Joseph Niehus was born Dec. 2, 1925, on the family farm near Remsen, Iowa, the son of Ben and Katherine (Deiterman) Niehus. He grew up in the Remsen area and graduated in 1943 from St. Mary's Catholic High School in Remsen. He attended Trinity College in Sioux City.

On Dec. 28, 1954, he was united in marriage to Rita Rolfes at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Le Mars, by the late Monsignor J.D. Fisch. The couple farmed for 37 years in the Remsen and Le Mars area. After retiring from farming, he drove the Siouxland Transit bus for many years.

He was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the church choir. He also was an honorary life member of the Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council 1466 and had recently been honored this last May as a member for 50 years. He enjoyed playing cards, bowling, singing in the church choir and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Rita of Le Mars; a daughter and six sons, Ken Niehus and his children, Zach, Elizabeth, Kaleb, Ethan and Aaron, all of Le Mars and Ken's special friend, Lynda Oster of Cherokee, Iowa, Tom Niehus of Roswell, Ga., and his children, Justin and Kyle, Rose and her husband, Steve Hanson of Sioux City and their children, Christopher, David and Paige, Gerry Niehus and his wife, Monika of Hesperia, Calif., Dan Niehus and his fiancee, Renee Pyziak of Littleton, Colo., Doug Niehus of Le Mars and Mark Niehus and his wife, Karla of Maple Valley, Wash.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and five brothers, Cletus, Raymond, Edward, Gilbert and Le Roy.

Pallbearers will be his sons.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection