James Niemeyer

James T. Niemeyer, age 74, of Willmar, died Sunday morning, March 25, at Bethesda Grand Nursing Home in Willmar.


A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Bethesda Grand on Wednesday. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. www.petersonbrothers.com


James Thomas Niemeyer was born on May 10, 1943, in Willmar, Minnesota, where he was raised by his mother and stepfather along with his three sisters. At fourteen, his mother passed away and he went to live with his older sister and brother-in-law in Texas. Once he was old enough, he moved back to Minnesota where he worked as a baker among other jobs. James married his first wife Cathy. They had a son together named Timothy James. Later he divorced and married his second wife Mary, of which they shared a daughter (Jennifer) and four step-children. He loved music and was part of a country band in St. Paul in the 1980's. He loved drawing cartoons, sing, and tell jokes. His eyes lit up every time he could get his hands on a guitar. He loved all of his kids, both biological and step-children alike. Most of all he loved his grandchildren.


He is survived by five children, Jennifer (and Detonias) Swift of Willmar, Pamela Fiereck of Minneapolis, Jeffrey (and Sara) Mitchell of Shoreview, Linda (and Roger) Zimmerman of Madison, WI., and Christine (and Mourad) Haddad of Bloomington; twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild. Also surviving is one sister, Carol Lamb of Laredo, TX., besides other relatives and friends.


He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary in 2016; and one son, Timothy in 2009.

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