Leon M. Niehaus, 88, of Pierceton, died July 14, 2012, in Miller’s Merry Manor Assisted Living, Warsaw.
He was born Jan. 11, 1924, in Farina, Ill., to Louis and Alma Waulkhaus Niehaus. His first wife, Ilene L. Niehaus, died Oct. 3, 1978. On Sept. 11, 1980, in Warsaw, he married Eileen L. Gibson Klotz, who survives in Pierceton.
He entered the U.S. Navy April 2, 1943, in Vandalia, Ill., serving during World War II. MAM1/c Leon Martin Niehaus was honorably discharged March 11, 1946, in Great Lakes, Ill. He moved to Indiana from Illinois in 1960. He worked at Creighton Brothers for 40 years, retiring in 1987 as the foreman of the egg breaking plant. He loved bowling and woodworking. He was a member of the American Legion and attended Warsaw Community Church. He was a man of integrity and was soft spoken, kindhearted, slow to speak, quick to listen and rarely angered.
Also surviving are a daughter, Kathy (and spouse Tom) Dempsey, Spokane, Wash.; five sisters: Velva (and spouse Elden) Fisher and Melinda Perry, all of Vandalia, Ill.; Fern (and spouse Glenn) Riechman, Bainbridge; Jane (and spouse Jim) Ballough, Lebanon, Ky.; and Iva Burgess, Salem, Ill.; a brother, Orville (and spouse Charlotte) Niehaus, Centralia, Ill.; five stepsons: Stanley (and spouse Patti) Klotz, Bremen; Denny (and spouse Mindy) Klotz, Lynn (and spouse Terri) Klotz and Rick (and spouse Dina) Klotz, all of Warsaw; Brian Klotz, Burke, Va.; two stepdaughters, Bonnie (and spouse Mark) Koomler, Syracuse, and Debra (and spouse Gary) Smalley, Silver Lake; 27 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a stepson, Steve Fischer; a granddaughter, Carlee Klotz, who died June 30, 2002; and a daughter-in-Law, Christine Klotz, who died Dec. 12, 2001.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, officiated by Pastor Jeff Pfeifer of Warsaw Community Church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to Warsaw Community Church (Missions), 103 Enterprise Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580; or Redeemer Lutheran Church (Missions), 1720 E. Center St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
