Richard Niemann Sr., 1931-2022: Regional grocery chain prospered for more than 50 years under his guidance

QUINCY — Rich Niemann Jr. summarized his father’s life as a family man and as a businessman by calling him a “guardian of truth and honesty.”

Richard Henry Niemann, Sr., who spent more than 50 years with the Niemann Foods regional grocery chain as president, chairman, CEO and chairman emeritus, died Sept. 25, 2022 in his home. He was 91 years old.

He will be remembered as a successful entrepreneur but also as a husband, a father of eight, a grandfather of 25 and a great-grandfather of 39.

“It’s been quite a while since my dad has had any day-to-day type of activity (with Niemann Foods), but he was still there as kind of a vanguard for the principles he believed in,” said Rich Jr., who replaced his father as the president and CEO of the company and remains in those roles today. “He wanted to make sure we took care of our associates.

“Our business is changing, and we’re in new markets and new states and advancing quite a bit, but you have to take that culture with you too. He was a champion of that culture, and that has helped guide us and will continue to guide us as the business goes forward.”

A Catholic funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Church of St. Peter in Quincy, followed by private graveside services at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of visitation, a celebration of Mr. Niemann’s life will be held after the Mass in the Connie Niemann Center for Music at Quincy University from noon to 3 p.m.

Mr. Niemann was born Feb. 18, 1931, to Ferdinand and Antoinette (Heckenkamp) Niemann. He graduated from Quincy Notre Dame High School and from Quincy College with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Mr. Niemann married Constance M. Volm on Oct. 6, 1951. It was “love at first sight” when they met as students at Notre Dame. He said he joined the high school band solely for the opportunity to meet Connie.

As a grade schooler, Mr. Niemann was introduced to the family business — Niemann Brothers Wholesale Grocers on North Third Street. He often accompanied his dad on visits to Niemann Brothers (and later Food Center) grocery stores. He first began to work at Niemann Brothers at age 12.

After graduating from Quincy College, Mr. Niemann managed Niemann Brothers Wholesale Grocers until his dad died in 1969. He became president of Quincy Foods, Inc., when went on to be known as Niemann Foods, Inc.

At the time of his father’s death, Mr. Niemann owned the Mississippi Grill restaurant and Sinclair gas station, both in West Quincy, Mo. He and his brother, Ferd, sold their interest in those two businesses and purchased the balance of the Quincy Foods’ stock from other extended family members.

Mr. Niemann expanded Quincy Foods, focusing his attention on expanding the number of the grocery stores throughout the Midwest and ceasing the grocery warehouse operation. Today, Niemann Foods, Inc. operates in five states with 130 retail stores, such as Harvest Market, County Market, Save-A-Lot, Price Cutter and ValuCheck grocery stores, Haymaker convenience stores, Pet Supplies Plus stores, Ace Hardware stores, Perk Coffee Company and Little Caesars pizza restaurants. 

Rich Jr. eventually took over his father’s roles with the business, and his brother Chris became executive vice president and CFO.

After graduating from the University of Illinois, Rich Jr. remembered he was interviewing for jobs in different parts of the country. He said he had no intention to return to Quincy, but his father made him an offer to work for the family business.

“I asked him, ‘Dad, if I agree to come back, are we going to run this as a professional organization, or are we going to run this as family first?’” Rich Jr. said. “He gave me his word that this would be a professional organization. That’s been so important to us over the years, because everyone has to have an opportunity to achieve the level they want to get to, and everyone has to have the same opportunity — not just because you’re family. I came back under those conditions, and he lived up to that all along the way.

“Dad taught all of us kids, whether it’s my sisters or brothers, to work hard, to be honest and to be persistent. There was never a guy I’ve seen who’s been more honest or persistent or a harder worker.”

During his time as a businessman, Mr. Niemann recognized as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s Retailer of the Year, the Illinois Food Retailers Association’s Food Industry Leader of the Year, the National Grocers Association’s Spirit of America Award and Food Marketing Institute’s Sidney R. Rabb Industry and Community Service Award.

Mr. Niemann also was involved in many volunteer and professional organizations and charitable activities. He was vice chairman of Food Marketing Institute, on its board of directors and served as chairman of FMI FoodPAC. He was chairman of the Illinois Food Retailers Association and on the board of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. 

He served as finance chairman and on the board of trustees of Quincy University, and he was on the boards of Culver-Stockton College and the Western Illinois University Foundation. He was the grand knight of the Knights of Columbus and as president of the Quincy School Board and the Rotary Club.  He served on boards at State Street Bank, the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, St. Mary Hospital, the Great River Economic Development Foundation and the Quincy Business and Technology Center. He and his wife chaired many fundraising campaigns.

Mr. Niemann, along with Rich Jr. and Chris, established in 2006 the Niemann Foods Foundation, which benefits children and their families in the markets served by Niemann Foods’ retail stores.

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 doctorate degree. He and his wife 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.

Mr. Niemann and his wife, in conjunction with the Niemann Foods Foundation, partnered with Quincy University to establish the Connie Niemann Center for Music in 2013.

“Dad always was very, very proud of Quincy,” Rich Jr. said. “He always made sure that people knew where he was from, whether it be in Washington, D.C., or in Las Vegas at a convention.”

He also was proud of the people who worked for Niemann Foods.

“At our annual meeting, whenever anybody received an award and or anything like that for their service, they all wanted their picture with Mr. Niemann,” said Gerry Kettler, director for Niemann Foods. “We have 6,000 employees, and everybody wanted a picture with Mr. Niemann. When he and I would go visit stores, it was just such a deal to have him come through and say hello to everybody. He was an important part of their lives.”

Mr. Niemann enjoyed world travel with grocer trade organization members, as well as with his daughter and son-in-law, Peg and Randy Guse.

Mr. Niemann is survived by his wife, Connie; his children, Linda (Steve) Ebbing, Rich (Susie) Niemann, Jr., Dan (Angie) Niemann, Ted (Suzanne) Niemann, Chris (Tammy) Niemann, Peggy (Randy) Guse, Amy (Patrick) O’Keefe, and 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 (Joseph Gobble) Niemann, Angelica Niemann, Elizabeth (Chris) Dreste, Dr. Adam (Cathy) Niemann, Eric Niemann, Caroline Niemann, Lindsay Cardosi, Christopher Cardosi, and Alex Cardosi; and 39 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Mr. Niemann in death were his parents; his daughter, Connie Niemann Wheeler; and his siblings, Catherine Johnson, Mary Shankland, and Ferd Niemann, Jr.

Memorial contributions may be made to Quincy University or Quincy Notre Dame. Contact Duker & Haugh Funeral Homes at 217-222-1011 or haugh@dukerandhaugh.com for additional information.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Much of Mr. Niemann’s background as a businessman, as well as his family information, was provided by Niemann Foods, Inc., and the Niemann family.