Niggeling, Thomas L. 1915-2002

NIGGELING, SCHMITT, OBERMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 4/18/2009 at 18:30:20

REMSEN, Iowa -- Thomas "Tom" L. Niggeling, 86, of Remsen died Saturday, Feb. 16, 2002, at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, with the Rev. Thomas J. Hart officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Remsen, with military rights conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3328 of Remsen, and American Legion Post 220. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Monday, with a parish rosary at 3 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., all at Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen.

Mr. Niggeling was born June 27, 1915, in Marcus, Iowa, the son of Nic and Mildred (Schmitt) Niggeling. He moved with his parents to Remsen when he was a young child. He was raised in Remsen and received his education at St. Mary's Catholic School. He then worked for his father in the painting and wallpaper hanging business at Remsen.

He entered the Iowa National Guard on March 12, 1931, and was discharged on Sept. 7, 1935. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from Jan. 4, 1935, to Oct. 15, 1935, doing construction work in the state of Arkansas. He then returned to Remsen and worked with his father and also managed the bowling alley in Remsen for several years in the early 1940s.

He married Hazel Oberman on Jan. 18, 1938, in Remsen, where they made their home. Hazel died Feb. 25, 1966. He entered the U.S. Army on March 29, 1944, serving during World War II in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters, being discharged Jan. 22, 1946. Upon returning to Remsen, he again worked with his father until 1949, when he took over the operation of the business and his father worked for him. He did volunteer work for the V.F.W. Club in Remsen for several years during the mid-1950s. For several years during the 1960s he also worked part time at the Avalon Ballroom in Remsen. He retired in 1982.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and V.F.W. Post 3328 of Remsen.

Survivors include two sons, Jack and his wife, Pam of Tama, Iowa, and Dave of Torrence, Calif.; three daughters and their husbands, Kathy and Wayne Augustine and Jean and Joel Fisch, all of Remsen, and Judy and Steve Leonard of Sioux City; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Jackie Niggeling of Milwaukee, Wis.; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Forest and Esther Oberman of Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

He also was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James.

Pallbearers will be Todd and Tim Niggeling, Doug, Mark and Kari Augustine, Kim Boever, Jeff and Mike Fisch, and Kristin and Scott Leonard.

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