Ralph Elmer Niehaus
Ralph Elmer Niehaus, 84, passed away in his sleep on July 7, 2015, at his residence in Edinburg, after a long battle with Parkinson's. He was born October 13, 1930, in St. Louis, Missouri to Elmer and Mildred Niehaus. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and married Althea Wildermuth on January 21, 1956. He joined the Navy shortly afterward and spent several years overseas. Back in the US, he maintained his military reserve status while working a wide variety of jobs, which included engineering for the St. Louis Gateway Arch. He then spent almost a decade in Saudi Arabia with the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). In 1983, he retired to the Rio Grande Valley, and enjoyed traveling, volunteering as a math tutor at University of Texas Pan-American, teaching driver's education, and working on puzzles of all kinds. Mr. Niehaus is survived by his wife, Althea; three children, Marcy (Roger) Lloyd of Rochester, New York, Ted (Linda) Niehaus of Clinton, Wisconsin, Julia (Bob) Soper of Edinburg; seven grandchildren; and a sister, Shirley (Erv) Schoessel of Chesterfield, Missouri. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2015; location to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to Palm Valley Animal Shelter or to First United Methodist Church, both of Edinburg. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.