Rose "Rosie" Adele Junemann Nieman

Our beloved Rosie was born December 1, 1929, to Rose and Fred Junemann in Galveston, Texas, and slipped away to the nearer presence of God on October 15, 2010. She is survived by John Nieman, her devoted husband of 59½ years and their children, Nancy Nieman Hilgers and husband Paul, and Paul Nieman and wife Mia, and their grandchildren, Sydney and John Hilgers and Lindsay and Laura Rose Nieman, all of Austin. She is also survived by her sister Pat Holmgren of Ft. Worth and her brother Raymond Junemann and wife Valena of La Marque, Texas, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, not to mention a true multitude of friends.

A life-long committed Christian, Rosie was active in the Christian Church in La Marque and in Austin, prior to her graduation from the University of Texas. She was a faithful member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Austin for many years and taught Bethel Bible classes there. For about the last 30 years, she and John have been active communicants of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church where she taught vacation Bible school, was a member with John of the Tuesday Night Bible Study, and lately also a member of a Thursday morning women’s Bible study and the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Rosie truly lived her name and always offered her enthusiastic help in any capacity, whether serving high tea in her outrageous red hat at the church arts festival or bringing sandwiches for a funeral reception. Rosie truly loved the arts and rarely missed a performance by the Austin Symphony. She was also a decade’s long member and past president of the Shakespeare Club.

Her culinary skills were almost legend, from whipping up sugar cookies for children to a perfect cioppino and elegant dessert at a seated dinner for 40. Gardening was also more than a casual hobby: when her parents moved from La Marque, she and John carefully transplanted her father’s collection of day lilies into the Niemans’ back yard. She adored showing off whatever was blooming (and usually there was a lot) and giving away bouquets and cuttings.

The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to Dr. Bali Netaji, M.D. and the staff of Southwest Regional Cancer Center, and to Rosie’s devoted caregivers and friends; Delma Leal, Marie Thomas, and Marion Douglas for their love and devotion over the last three years.

A celebration of Rosie’s life will be held on Friday, October 22, at 3:00 PM at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa, Austin, Texas, with the Rector Merrill Wade, Associate Rector Susan Barnes, and Rector Emeritus Chuck Huffman officiating. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the general endowment fund of St. Matthews.