Leroy John Niehaus
Evansville, IN
Leroy J. Niehaus, 89, died on Thursday, February 12, 2015, at Solarbron Terrace. Leroy was born on March 11, 1925, and lived his entire life on the family farm, located in German Township. He was a lifelong member of Zoar United Church of Christ. He retired after working 42 years at Bristol Myers and in retirement volunteered at the church, the Tri-State Food Bank, several Habitat for Humanity builds, sat on the 4H Center Board, and was active in the Soil Conservation
Service. He took great pride in caring for the family farm and received several conservation awards for his efforts. In 1956 he started planting pine tree seedlings and this is how the family Christmas Tree business, the Sycamore Valley Tree Farm, got started.
He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Christina, his wife Lillian, and his brother Robert.
He is survived by his sons, John (Christie) and James (Karla), in Evansville and Bill (Mary) in Fargo, ND.
He is also survived by granddaughters Carrie (Brian) Gaiser, Katie, and Erin Niehaus, and by grandsons Aaron and Andrew Niehaus and James Semmens. In addition he is survived by great-grandsons Logan and Levi and great-granddaughter Lily, and many nieces and nephews.
The family is grateful for all of the caregivers at Solarbron who treated Leroy like a family member during his residence there. And we wish to lift up Sam and Phyllis for the love and care they gave him, as well.
Visitation will be Monday, March 30, 2015 at Zoar UCC, 4600 Church Rd, Evansville, IN, from 1:30 until 4:30 P.M. A Memorial Service will follow, at 4:30pm.
Memorial gifts can be made to the Zoar UCC Memorial Fund, 4600 Church Rd, Evansville, IN 47720.
Published in Courier Press on Mar. 28, 2015