Melvin Niemann

Melvin Carl Niemann, age 84, went to be with our Lord on Monday, September 8, 2014. He passed quietly, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 11 from 68pm at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Odessa. Services will be Friday, September 12, at 1pm at Sunset Memorial Gardens, with the Reverend Clydel Chapman officiating.

Melvin, sometimes called Jim or Pete, was born October 25, 1929 in Priddy, Texas to Carl and Lydia Niemann. The oldest child of seven in a family of German heritage, he learned the value of hard work growing up on the family farm. He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in 1944. He attended public school in Priddy where he was voted most popular. During the Korean War, he was drafted into the US Army, where he was a mechanic in the antiaircraft battalion. He was stationed in West View, Pennsylvania, where he met his Irish Yankee wifetobe, Marianna McCook, and his daughtertobe, Pat. After leaving the Army, he brought them to Texas and was married on August 6, 1955 at Zion Lutheran Church in Priddy, Texas, with the Reverend John Striepe officiating. They moved to Odessa and in 1956, they gave birth to a son, Steve.

After working at Go Lightly Chevrolet in Hamilton, Melvin went to work at Broncho Chevrolet in Odessa, Texas in the used car department in 1955. He began as a mechanic and then became a service manager until his retirement in 1997. Melvin enjoyed fishing, hunting and working on cars, hobbies that he shared with the next generations. He liked to be busy and it seemed there was nothing he could not build, fix or figure out. He was a Lutheran throughout his life, attending Christ Lutheran Church in Odessa. He was a beloved husband, dad, grandpa, greatgrandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. He found purpose in the pride it brought him to love his family and see them succeed. He will be dearly missed by many.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Lydia Niemann.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marianna Niemann daughter Pat Martinez and husband Al of Odessa son Steve Niemann and wife Tyann of Odessa grandchildren Tracy Dawson of Odessa, Chris Martinez of Austin, Tiffany Collier of Odessa, Nicole Paine of Osseo, Wisconsin, Stephanie Tibbets of Odessa, and Shawn Niemann of Grand Prairie 15 greatgrandchildren siblings Dorothy Bosse of Priddy, Vernell Fiest and husband Lohman of Priddy, Frances Kopp of Priddy, Caroline Schwartz and husband Fritz of Priddy, Lee Roy Niemann and wife Janice of Priddy, Mike Niemann and wife Deborah of Beaumont and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers: Chris Martinez, Shawn Niemann, Ron Dawson, Lucas Collier, Chris Tibbets, Greg Niemann.
Honorary pallbearers: Donnie Paine, Stephen Garcia, Ethan Floyd, Ethan Collier.

Visitation

Sunset Memorial Funeral Home
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Thursday, September 11, 2014
6:008:00 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Sunset Memorial Chapel
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762
Friday, September 12, 2014
1:00 PM

Cemetery

Sunset Memorial Gardens
6801 E. Business 20
Odessa, TX  79762