John Thomas Nieburg

John Thomas Nieburg was born in Warrenton, MO, in 1940. He was preceded in death by a brother, Jimmy, and his parents Doris W. and John F. Nieburg.

Graduating in 1963 from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1963, he held a degree in Industrial Engineering, then served in the U.S. Army Artillery at Ft. Sill, OK.

John worked for Dupont at their Chattanooga, TN, plant in various capacities until 1973 when he was transferred to Wilmington, DE in the Safety and Fire Protection Division. Transferred in 1976 to the Louisville, KY plant as an Industrial Safety Superintendent, then back to DE in DuPont Safety Resources as a Senior consultant. He earned the title of Certified Safety Professional and was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, retiring from active service in 1992. He continued to work as a safety consultant with DuPont until 2010. As part of DuPont Safety Resources he worked in plants belonging to other companies who contracted these safety services from Dupont and did consultation all over the world—Europe, China, Australia, the Yucatan, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the north Slope of Alaska.

From boyhood John loved to fish and hunt. He loved boating and working with his friend Ronnie Caldwell on his homeplace in Madison County, and travel. Through all the years he continued to enjoy the friendship, the hunting and fishing, with his college roommate, John Stanard.

John moved to Givens Estates Retirement Community in Asheville, NC in 2005. He and Becky Parks were married in 2011. He was a skilled woodcarver, serving two years as President and 15 years as Newsletter Editor of the WNC Carvers, and chair of Woodcarvers Day at the Folk Art Center twice. At Givens Estates he enjoyed the fellowship of the group of carvers there. He served as Chair of the Library Media Center Board for 18 years, managed the Habitat building crew volunteer program, co-chaired the Woodworking Shop, was part of a group of volunteers who worked to build and maintain trails in the mountain area on the campus. He was Givens Estates Volunteer of the Year in 2018.

The most common comment from those who knew him was that he was a true gentleman, he was kind, loved to laugh and had a quick sense of humor, always disciplined and organized. John’s curiosity, love for meeting people, passion for life and desire to help others sustained him in everything he did.
He is greatly missed.

John is survived by his wife Becky and stepdaughter Ida Lee Norrell, stepson David C. Norrell and Inga, his sister Nannette Reckinger, a niece and nephew, Robin and Kevin Reckinger.

A Celebration of Life honoring John will be held on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel at Givens Estates. His remains will be interred in the family plot in Warrenton, MO. Those who wish to remember John with a Memorial gift may give to Givens Estates Resident Assistance Fund – 2360 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.