Bill Text: IL HR0957 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Richard Henry "Rich" Niemann Sr.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-11-15 - Resolution Adopted [HR0957 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0957-Introduced.html

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HR0957 LRB102 29141 MST 41077 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives 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 high
school; 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Cardosi, Christopher Cardosi, and Alex Cardosi; and 39
great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 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.