James Niemeier

James `Jim` Niemeier, 87, of rural Evansville died on Thursday, February 17, at Charlier Hospice Center in Evansville after a short illness. Jim was born on April 10, 1923, in Evansville to Henry and Josephine Niemeier on Evansville’s west side, and grew up in the St. Joe area in northwestern Vanderburgh County. After graduating from St. Joseph Grade School, he went to work in his father’s plastering business, Niemeier Plastering Company. Jim worked on many commercial and institutional projects throughout the Evansville area as the family business became established in the plastering trade. He continued working for his father, with his older brother Syl, in plastering through the 1930s, 40s, and early 1950s, until the advent of gypsum drywall. Prior to leaving the plastering business, Jim obtained a U.S. Patent for the Portable Hod Rack, a tool he invented for use in the plastering industry. In the 1950s Jim built numerous homes in the St. Joe area as a building contractor. In 1961 he built the St. Joe Texaco Station. In 1962, Texaco Petroleum named the St. Joe Texaco station as the No.1 rated Texaco service station in the United States. He operated the station himself with family help for several years. He then leased the station and became a Texaco Distributor in 1964. He retired from the distributorship in the mid-80s, taking the gas station and remodeling it into the St. Joe Mini Mart. He and family members operated the Mini Mart for several years until he sold the business in 1985. He then became fully retired and at that time acquired the title of `Mayor of St. Joe`, remaining active in supervising and advising on numerous building projects within the family, neighborhood, and at the St. Joseph Parish Church and School. In 2004, he and his wife Dolores were awarded the Brute Award from the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Dolores(Hoefling) in 2009, older brother, Syl, younger brother Francis(killed in WWII), and a sister Rita(Gerteisen). Jim is survived by a sister, Mary Gerteisen, daughter Barbara Mills, sons, Norb,(Madonna) Dennis, (Donna) and Mike, (Doris) and a daughter Angie (Tom) Lydon, all of Evansville, 11 grandchildren, Lisa, Matt, Eran, Brandt, Kayla, Andrea, Ryan, Lauren, Caroline, Katelyn and Ben and 6 great-grandchildren, Cooper, Coley, Max, Wil, Joe and Jill and nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m., Sunday, February 20, 2011, at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 West Franklin St., Evansville where a memorial service will be held at 4 P.M. The funeral service and Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, February 21, at 11:30 am. with Father Gene Schroeder officiating. Friends may call from 11 A.M. until service time Monday. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Raising the Roof Building Campaign, 6200 West St. Joe Road, Evansville, IN, 47720 or The John and Betty Charlier Hospice Center, 610 East Walnut St., Evansville, IN 47734. The family would like to thank the staff at Charlier, Dr. Flamion, and Sr. Jenny Miller for their wonderful and thoughtful care during Jim’s illness.

James Niemeier

April 10, 1923 - February 17, 2011