William L. Niemann 1920-2011
William (Bill) Lovekamp Niemann, 91, passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona, on July 30, 2011. A resident of Evanston and Winnetka for many years, he will be greatly missed as a father, grandfather and friend.
Mr. Niemann was born on July 20, 1920, in Jacksonville, Illinois. He grew up as the middle of three children in Arenzeville, Illinois. He earned a B.A. from Carthage College (1941) and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law (1947, Cum Lauda, Order of the Coif). His law school education was interrupted by World War II, during which he proudly served in the medical and transportation corps of the U.S. Army, eventually achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. His military service included tours of duty in Europe, Africa and Italy.
Mr. Niemann began his law career in 1947 as an attorney with Snyder, Chadwell & Fagerburg in Chicago, and later served as regional attorney for Montgomery Ward & Company in Oakland, California. There he met and married (1956) Doris Elizabeth Greenstreet (1926-2008), his devoted wife of 52 years. They relocated to the Chicago area where Bill began a 25-year association with Brunswick Corporation in Chicago and Skokie, eventually serving as Vice President-Law, Secretary and General Counsel.
During this time he and Doris lived in Evanston and Winnetka, where they raised two sons and attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Evanston. Bill also served on the Board of Trustees of Carthage College, as a member of the Law Club of Chicago, as an officer of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, and as Director of the Oakton Community College Foundation. Doris and Bill retired to Tucson in 1990.
He is survived by sons William Niemann, Jr. (Mary) of Huntington, West Virginia, and John Niemann (Kathy) of Des Moines, Iowa; grandchildren Michael, Jennifer and Tiffany; and many other relatives and friends.
Cremation will be performed at Vistoso Memorial Chapel. A service celebrating his life is planned for family and friends in Tucson in November.