Obituary of Arthur Alfred Niefer

A memorial folder from the funeral service can be printed under the "Memories" tab then click "Memorial Program". NIEFER - Mr. Art Niefer, longtime Yorkton resident, passed away at his home on Friday, May 17, 2013. he was 89 years of age. Arthur A. Niefer was born in Detroit, Michigan to a Henry Ford assembly line worker, Ferdinand (Fred) Niefer. Art (as he was known) was the 3rd of 12 children raised by Fred. In 1928 the Niefer family came to the Yorkton area, but not before Art was a big brother to 2 more sisters, Irene and Isabel. He lost his mother Tina Breese Niefer to cancer in 1937 and worked on his father's farm until he was 21. In 1945, after World War 2 ended, Art got the opportunity to go into the trucking business and truck he did - for over 4 million miles for more than 42 years. There were only 5 men - with 5 Saskatchewan companies - that had what were later called, "Grandfather Running Rights", Art was one of them. These rights meant he had the right with his license plates to haul anything from Oil and Gas, to household goods or heavy machinery, drilling equipment, even dynamite. The list of products almost filled a page. In 1949 he married his sweetheart Martha Eleanor Ruf. Married for 52 years until Martha's death in 2001, they were blessed with three children; Don, Darryl and Dale. Art had many offers over the years to leave Yorkton and either merge his business with large companies or run their operations, but he turned them down because of his family, friends and community. He was a long time member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a member of the Kiwanis Club until his health no longer permitted him to attend regularly. Art was a fisherman in his younger years and later an avid golfer as well as an occasional bowler. Art was predeceased by his parents (Tina in 1937 and Fred in 1983), stepmother Molly, wife Martha in 2001, brother Earnest in 1996 and sisters Irene and Hilda in 2009 and stepbrother David and stepsisters Wilma and Dorothy. Art leaves to mourn his passing and to cherish his memory; his sons: Donald (Cathy) of Calgary; Darryl of Yorkton and Dale (Marena) of Calgary; four grandchildren: Taylor, Reed & Emily Niefer of Calgary, Darren (Jocelyn) and great grandson Brare of Didsbury, AB; his sisters Rita of Victoria, B.C. and Isabel (Ray) of Saskatoon; stepbrothers Arnold, Mervin and Gordon, nieces, nephews and his many other relatives and friends. The funeral service was held on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Yorkton with Rev. Fred Schneider officiating. Organist, Carla Laycock led the congregation in the singing of the hymns 'Just As I Am' and 'How Great Thou Art'. Daughter-in-law, Cathy Niefer sang 'Be Thou Near To Me'. Tributes were given by Darren Niefer & Ervin Litzenberger. The interment took place in the Garden of St. Matthew at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Dale, Darren & Taylor Niefer, Harvey Miller, Brian Ruf and Ervin Litzenberger serving as the casketbearers. Condolences may be left at baileysfuneralhome.com. Memorials were to the church building fund. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 2:00pm, St. Paul Lutheran Church Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens