Willie Nieman Tribute

Willie was a constant prescence in my house when I was growing up in Pleasant Hill. He painted houses with my stepfather and was good friends with both my parents. I remember him wearing shorts and flip flops all the time. I remember him pacing back and forth with a phone up to his ear, always so passionate and hyped up about everything he was thinking and/or talking about. My sister and I still laugh today about the time Willie was sitting in one of our dining room chairs and for some odd reason the whole chair suddenly crumbled beneath him and he landed on the floor with a loud, "Mother@$!&er!" We thought it was the funniest thing! He always made us laugh and I remember being excited when he'd come over. Later on in my teen years he'd talk about my love of writing and told me I was very smart and I could do whatever I wanted. Some things happened in my life and I wouldn't see Willie again until 2006 when I was 30 years old. He came into the dental lab I worked at for an appointment. We had a very pleasant exchange and he looked and acted exactly the same as I remembered. Good old Willie....so smart and witty! I was shocked and saddened to learn of his passing at such a young age.