SR1214 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1214 LRB102 29116 MST 41051 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Henry "Rich" Niemann Sr., who passed away on September 25, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was born to Ferdinand "Ferd" Sr. and Antoinette "Nette" (Heckenkamp) Niemann on February 18, 1931; during grade school, he would often accompany his father on visits to Niemann Brothers grocery stores and first began to work at Niemann Brothers Wholesale Grocers at age 12; he graduated from Notre Dame High School, and on October 6, 1951, he married Constance M. "Connie" Volm, whom he met in the high school band; he earned his bachelor's degree in marketing from Quincy College (Quincy University), where he played baseball for four years; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann and Connie began to raise their family while he attended school and played college baseball; he also worked at Niemann Brothers Wholesale Grocers and was involved with his father and brother in developing and operating the Niemann Pony Farm, a Shetland pony business; after graduation, he managed Niemann Brothers Wholesale Grocers until 1969 when he became president of Niemann Foods, Inc., known at that time as Quincy Foods, Inc.; he also acquired an interest in other family businesses, including the Mississippi Grill restaurant and the Sinclair gas station; and

WHEREAS, Starting in 1969, Rich Niemann began to focus his attention on the Niemann Foods grocery stores and ceased the grocery warehouse operation; as president in 1969, chairman and CEO in 1994, later as just chairman, and, most recently, as chairman emeritus of Niemann Foods, he, along with his sons, Rich and Chris, helped develop Niemann Foods into a company that now operates 130 retail stores in five states, including Harvest Market, County Market, Save-A-Lot, Price Cutter and ValuCheck grocery stores, Haymaker convenience stores, Pet Supplies Plus, Ace Hardware, Perk Coffee Company, and Little Caesars; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was involved in numerous volunteer and professional organizations and charitable activities; he served as vice chairman of the Food Marketing Institute and on its board of directors and as chairman of FMI FoodPAC; he also served as chairman of the Illinois Food Retailers Association and on the board of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association; he served as finance chairman and was a member of the board of trustees of Quincy University and the boards of Culver-Stockton College and the Western Illinois University Foundation; he also served as a grand knight of the Knights of Columbus (Fourth Degree) and as president of the Quincy School Board for Quincy Public Schools; he served many years on the board of directors for both the State Street Bank and the Quincy Chamber of Commerce; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann served as chairman of St. Mary Hospital's board of trustees and as president of the St. Mary Hospital Foundation; he was a founding member of the Great River Economic Development Foundation and a founding member of the Quincy Business and Technology Center; he served as president of the Rotary Club of Quincy, where he was a long-standing member; in 2006, he, along with his sons, Rich and Chris, established the Niemann Foods Foundation, benefiting children and their families throughout all the markets served by Niemann Foods' retail stores; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann and his wife had been involved in many charitable fundraising campaigns, including serving as co-chairpersons of the Salvation Army Annual Fund Campaign and of the United Way Annual Fund Drive, as well as the Annual Sammy Fund Campaign; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was recognized as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association Retailer of the Year and the Illinois Food Retailers Associations' Food Industry Leader of the Year; he also received the National Grocers Association's Spirit of America Award and the Food Marketing Institute's Sidney R. Rabb Industry and Community Service Award; in addition, he was inducted into the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame and received its Parker S. Gates Industry Leader Award; he also received Quincy University's Alumnus of the Year Award and an honorary doctoral degree from Quincy University; he and Connie received the Quincy Notre Dame Band Award, the Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools Foundation's Friend of Catholic Education Award, and the Catholic Charities Distinguished Service Award; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was always mindful of giving back to the community; he and Connie, in conjunction with the Niemann Foods Foundation, partnered with Quincy University to establish the Connie Niemann Center for Music in 2013; in memory of their late daughter, they established the Connie Niemann Wheeler Scholarship Fund at Quincy Notre Dame; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was a great husband, father, and son and emphasized his family's health, welfare, happiness, and success; he enjoyed countless family dinners, which produced many thought-provoking family discussions, as well as lots of laughter; he took his family on summer Florida beach vacations and winter Colorado ski trips; he enjoyed many family birthday and holiday celebrations and loved spending time with his family; he enjoyed world travel with grocer trade organization members, as well as with his daughter and son-in-law, Peg and Randy Guse; in his later years, you could find him teaching his grandchildren how to ride a pony, celebrating their birthdays, and having a treat with them after a swim in the family pool; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann was preceded in death by his daughter, Connie A. Niemann Wheeler; his parents; and his siblings, Catherine Johnson, Mary Shankland, and Ferdinand "Ferd" Niemann Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Rich Niemann is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Connie; his children, Linda M. (Steve) Ebbing, Richard "Rich" (Susie) Niemann Jr., Daniel M. "Dan" (Angie) Niemann, Ted M. (Suzanne) Niemann, Christopher J. "Chris" (Tammy) Niemann, Margaret M. "Peggy" (Randy) Guse, and Amy E. (Patrick) O'Keefe; his son-in-law, Paul (JoJene) Wheeler II; his grandchildren, Dr. Jonathan (Dr. Devon) Ebbing, Abigail (Matthew) Klarner, Matthew (Erin) Ebbing, Jessica (Brett) Gerig, Paul (Dana) Wheeler III, Audrey (Andy) Hermsmeier, Rich (Heather) Niemann III, Brad (Jenna) Niemann, Andrea (Brian) Doellman, Doug (Erin) Niemann, Lisa (Adam) Hemmen, Ashley (Robbie) Mayfield, Mark (Lauren) Niemann, Scott (Amanda) Niemann, Genevieve (Max) Miller, Celeste Niemann (Joseph Gobble), Angelica Niemann, Elizabeth (Chris) Dreste, Dr. Adam (Cathy) Niemann, Eric Niemann, Caroline Niemann, Lindsay Cardosi, Christopher Cardosi, and Alex Cardosi; and 39 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Henry "Rich" Niemann Sr. and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rich Niemann as an expression of our deepest sympathy.