Craig Niewoehner, 63

Jan. 5, 1960 -

May 25, 2023

 

LIME SPRINGS - Craig Niewoehner, 63, of Lime Springs, Iowa passed away at his home on Thursday, May 25, 2023.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lime Springs, Iowa.  Friends may call from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco, Iowa, as well as one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday.  Burial will be at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Lime Springs.

Craig John Niewoehner was born Jan. 5, 1960 at West Union, Iowa. He was the son of John and Eunice Niewoehner. He was baptized in Lutheran faith & later confirmed at the Lutheran church in rural Boyd, Iowa. After moving to Chester, Iowa. He was a member of United Lutheran Church until it closed. 

Craig wasn’t afraid to try anything if he thought it would work. He built houses and logged with his dad. He married Elaine Ross on July 16, 1977 at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church in rural Elma, Iowa. They are the parents of Ray and John. 

Craig also worked at A & K Feed & Grain & the Farmers Coop both of Lime Springs. He was a Tomorrows Leader Today, a member of Chester-Lime Springs Fish & Game. (He helped build the first shooting bench there), a volunteer fireman of Chester Fire and Rescue, of which he was assistant fire chief for many years. 

He started to work at SMI Co. when it was located in Chester. Due to a fire, SMI Co. relocated to Cresco. Tom Kammer, manager then of SMI Co., and Craig were then put to the task of finding a large enough building and reconstructing SMI Co. along with setting up equipment and getting the company back on its feet. 

It was a challenge laying out and setting up the equipment. Craig took to heart and made it work. A few years later, SMI bought a sawmill, which Craig became the manager until his failing health in 2022. Craig was a fighter surviving a heart attack, stroke and cancer, doing two rounds of radiation in 2019 and 2020. He and wife, Elaine, along with the rest of the Niewoehner family, were famous for their eggrolls at Lime Springs Sweet Corn Days, and the proceeds were donated to the Lime Springs pool. Living with Craig was like a box of animal crackers; you never knew what adventure you would be on next.

Craig will be sadly missed by his wife Elaine of 45 years, his son, Ray, and Jamie Niewoehner and their children, Jackie and Jade; son, John and Sonda Niewoehner and their children, Ross, Rose, Chase, Carter, Cruz, Jessica and great-grandson, Zakia; his mother Eunice Niewoehner, brother, Ken and wif,e Jolene, two nieces, one nephew and one great niece.

He is preceded in death by his father John Niewoehner, paternal grandparents, Ervin Niewoehner and Clara Niewoehner Schultz, step-grandfather, Melvin Schultz and maternal grandparents, Maxwell and Frances Matt, and his in-laws, Paul and Alice Ross.

The Niewoehner family would like to thank the Howard Co. Hospice nurses and aides for their excellent care and support, Pastor Jeff Jacobs for his visits, neighbors Betty and Brad for their visits, and all their delicious food and treats. May God bless you all!