Sydney Ann Niemann

Sydney A. Niemann, 88, of Waterloo, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2025, at Wellspring Living Health Center at Friendship Village.

Sydney was born on January 23, 1937, in Davenport to Lester and Roma Speer Rashid. She spent her childhood in Davenport and held dear her time living with her parents, brother, grandparents, aunt and uncle, and cousins, in the “Big House” in West Davenport. She then moved to Houston, Texas, to begin her high school years before moving back to Davenport where she graduated from the Immaculate Conception Academy in 1955. She then attended the University of Colorado in Boulder.

She met Jack G. Niemann at a bridal shower of a friend and it was love at first sight. After a short courtship, they married on April 26, 1958, in St. Paul the Apostle Church, Davenport. They shared 56 wonderful years in marriage until Jack’s passing in 2014. Sydney was a gifted homemaker who loved to entertain friends, her children’s friends, and especially extended family during the holidays. At Christmas, her peanut brittle, a closely held family recipe, was known around town as the best ever made! She enjoyed time selling Mary Kay cosmetics, as a member and president of Chapter Z of PEO, Questers, and Wednesday morning Adoration at Columbus High School.

Sydney’s hobbies and loves included golf, tennis, her bridge and Bunco groups, knitting scarves, and walks on the beaches of San Diego and Sanibel Island. Sydney will be remembered for her love of family, her Rashid family heritage, as well as her strong Christian faith and active involvement in St. Edward’s Catholic Church for over 50 years.

Sydney is survived by her daughters Julie Schoonover and Kathy (Kevin) McClain, both of Waterloo; son, Jeff Niemann (Troy Weiland) of Holland, MI; five grandchildren including Joshua (Jillian) Schoonover, Ashley Schoonover, Amanda (Mike) Coons, Abby McClain (Benny Borremans), and Connor (Shannon) McClain; seven great grandchildren, as well as cherished cousins, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband Jack, her parents, and brother William (Bill).

Catholic mass will be held at St. Edward’s Catholic Church, 1425 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 11:00am. Visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at Locke at Tower Park, 4140 Kimball Avenue, Waterloo, with a 7:00pm vigil service; and also for one hour prior to mass at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to St. Edward’s Catholic Church or Cedar Valley Hospice, both in Waterloo, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Locke at Tower Park is assisting the family, 319-233-3146.