Wayne Charles "Charlie" Niehaus Sr., 91 of Effingham, passed away Tuesday evening, March 4, 2014.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday evening at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart School.

Wayne was born in Wauwatosa, WI on October 2, 1923, the son of Ewald and Frances (Beunkemper) Niehaus. He married Arlene Jennings Byers on June 6, 1959 at Sacred Heart Church in Effingham. Wayne grew up in the Chicago and Effingham area. He graduated from Effingham High School and then entered the Army Air Corps at Chanute Field in Rantoul. Wayne graduated as a tech sergeant and was transferred to Myrtle Beach Air Force base where he served for three years. He returned to the Effingham area where he worked as a mechanic and then as a Snap On Tools district representative and salesman. In 1970, he purchased Altamont Sales and Service where he was the owner and operator until he retired. He enjoyed airplanes, photography and coin collecting.

Wayne is survived by his wife Arlene of Effingham; four children, Mary Ann Meighan of Denver CO., Steve Niehaus of Mason, Kim Webster of Virginia and Wayne Charles Niehaus Jr. of Altamont. He also had four grandchildren, Francesca Crofts and Lluvia Crofts of Denver CO., Jessie Meighan of Brooklyn, NY and Shelby Niehaus of Altamont; two brothers, Bill Niehaus of Des Plains and Gerald Niehaus of Sammamish, Washington.

Mr. Niehaus was preceded in death by parents and sister, Evelyn Peters.