Herman N. "Harmie" Bierman, 88, passed away at 5:50 p.m., Sunday, April 15, 2012 at his home in rural Wheeler.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Island Grove with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the church with a 6:00 p.m. parish wake service. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice. Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham is assisting the family with arrangements. www.bauerfh.com

Herman was born July 18, 1923, the son of Herman B. and Mary (Henkelman) Bierman. He married Dolores (Beckman) on February 5, 1944 and she preceded him in death on March 18, 2004. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Island Grove, the Effingham Knights of Columbus and Dieterich Ruritan. Herman was one of the original founders of the Dieterich Fire Protection District and was a lifelong dairy farmer.

He is survived by five sons, Bill (Joan), Randy (Gay), Mark (Marge), Terry (Cathy) and Roger (Denise); two daughters, Connie (Larry) Helmink and Anita (Alvin) Emmerich; sister-in-law, Matilda Bierman; 31 grandchildren; 54 great grandchildren and 2 step-great grandchildren.

Herman is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dolores; infant son, Joseph; one great grandchild, Maggie Goebel; four brothers, Albert, Urban, Louis and Lawrence; four sisters, Cecelia Bierman, Delphine Lidy, Marie Cohorst and Alice Flach.