Warner Ernest Nieman

He was born May 12, 1931, in Napoli, NY, the oldest child of the late Ernest and Grace Nieman. He graduated from Little Valley High School, Little Valley, NY, in 1949, and married Eleanor A."Lee" Aiken on June 24, 1950. They shared a bond of enduring love and true friendship until her death on Sept. 18, 2012. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1952 and served in the Korean War with the 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment. He was a prisoner of war, one of the final men to cross into "Freedom Village" as the POWs were repatriated. He received the Purple Heart, among other medals. He returned to civilian life and worked for Royal Metal, later Interoyal, in Jamestown, NY, as a machine operator and then foreman, before moving to the location in Michigan City, IN. Upon retirement from the shop, he moved to West Virginia and opened a bait and tackle shop, the Flyrod II, in Fairmont, WV, which he ran successfully for many years.

He is survived by a daughter, Valerie Nieman of Greensboro, NC; a daughter and her husband, Lorilee and Aaron Smallwood of Kernersville, NC; one grandson, Loren Bradley Smallwood of Germanton,NC, and his wife, Amber Ward; two great-grandsons, Zackary and Oliver; one sister, Edna Johnson of Little Valley, NY; one brother, Walter Nieman of Randolph, NY; numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by an infant son, Darryl Jon; and by one sister, Denora Aiken, of Kennedy, NY. In addition to family, he will be mourned by a host of friends gathered over a lifetime, from bowling leagues in Jamestown, NY, to the bass fishing community in Fairmont, WV, to his regular Thursday night dinners at Island Way on Oak Island, where he was fast friends with Phil and his sons, Chad and Steve, as well as the entire crew. When he and his wife first moved to Southport, he joined the VFW Post on Oak Island. He became the bingo director and had a loyal following on Monday and Wednesday evenings. He also spearheaded the creation of the veterans memorial outside the post, was the chaplain for both the VFW and the American Legion there. He was a proud patriot and a Marine all his days. Among his many special friends there is Sgt-Maj. Ken Bealer and his wife Ann.

He was received into the Lutheran faith in 1993, and was a faithful member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Southport. His hobbies included fishing, traveling to Maine and other states, and in later years, gardening and birdwatching. He was a faithful fan of the Cleveland Browns, through good years and bad. He was a devoted father, instilling in his children the values of independence, honesty, courage, and hard work that he exemplified throughout his life. His body will be cremated and his ashes strewn into the sea.

A memorial will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southport; a military memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 25th at the VFW Post on Oak Island. Peacock-Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of his favorite charities, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or to veterans support programs through the VFW or Disabled American Veterans.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com.

Peacock – Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service in Southport is serving the family.