Loretta Sophia (Nilges) Niekamp

Loretta Sophia (Nilges) Niekamp, age 83 of Loose Creek, Mo. passed away Saturday, May 23, 2009, at Westphalia Retirement Center in Westphalia.

She was born on April 18, 1926, in Rich Fountain a daughter to the late Henry and Mary (Radmacher) Mengwasser. Loretta attended school in Rich Fountain.

On October 16, 1954 Loretta was united in marriage to Hugo John Nilges in Rich Fountain. He preceded her in death on January 1, 1985. On May 13, 1986 she married Jule J. Niekamp in Loose Creek. He preceded her in death on June 11, 1997.

Loretta was a homemaker and had also worked for Linn Manufacturing, Cheesebrough Ponds and St. George School as a cook prior to her retirement in 2000.

She was a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Loose Creek, St. George Church in Linn and St. Ann's Sodality.

Loretta enjoyed gardening, sewing, needlepoint, quilting and cooking.

She is survived by: one son, Anthony ""Tony"" and his wife Tammy Nilges of Jefferson City; one daughter, Theresa Rehagen and her husband Kenny of Westphalia; three brothers, Alfred and his wife Leona Mengwasser of Taos, Clem and his wife Leoba Mengwasser of Rich Fountain and Norbert Mengwasser of Rich Fountain; two sisters, Rose Voss and her husband Leonard of Linn and Bernadine Pope of Freeburg; five grandchildren, Dustin and Breana Nilges, Brian,Kevin and Katie Rehagen; three great grandchildren, Izac, Lathen and Kaedyn Rehagen and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by five brothers, Alex, Ignatius, Cornelius, Arthur, and Vincent Mengwasser and one sister, Hildegard Mengwasser.

Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at Morton Chapel in Linn.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Immaculate Conception Church in Loose Creek. Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Church Cemetery.