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Ben "Bud" Frank Nieman

1926 - 1997

May 20, 1926 - November 2, 1997

Ben "Bud" Frank Nieman, 71, died Sunday (Nov. 2, 1997) at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Ventura United Methodist Church with the Rev. David Gobeli officiating. Burial will be in the Klemme Cemetery. Friends may call after 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., and one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the church. The family of Ben "Bud" Frank Nieman has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Ventura United Methodist Church in his memory.

Ben "Bud" Frank Nieman was born on May 20, 1926, in Kanawha, the son of Ben and Tena (Lambert) Nieman. He attended and received his education in the Klemme schools, graduating from Klemme High School in 1943. After completing his formal education, he began working at the Klemme Elevator and also worked for Bud Prichard's Auto in Garner, and Fisher Implement in Meservey until 1954, when he started Nieman Oil Company, and in 1962, Nieman Tire and Wheel Company, and in 1965, he began farming north of Clear Lake. Bud was known as the supplier of tire and wheel assembly and suspension components of trailer manufacturing throughout the United States.

He was united in marriage to Lois Zook on Nov. 26, 1950, at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake. Bud was very active in civic and business activities. He was a former mayor of Ventura, former member and past president of the Ventura Lions Club, was on the FHA Board in Mason City, Cirrus Board, was former board member of NATM and was voted Iowa Small Businessman of the year in 1988. He enjoyed hunting, playing baseball and softball and was the 4-H coach for the softball team in Ventura. He also enjoyed his race horses and bowling, but his great love and enjoyment was his family and grandchildren. He was a member of Ventura United Methodist Church.

Left to cherish his memory are one son, David Nieman and his wife, Lisa, of Ventura; one daughter, Nancy Leisen and her husband, Mark, of Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Ben and Kathryn Nieman and Nicole and Drew Leisen; two sisters, Naomi Brandt and Margaret Terhufen, both of Clear Lake; as well as other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Judy Thiemann, Ann Nieman and Mildred Smith.

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