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Bellville Times
Rose Lee Riniker Neumann passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 18, 2006. Rose Lee was born to Charles Riniker and Ella Hattie Hartmann Riniker on Oct. 7, 1918 in Bellville, Texas. Rose Lee was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Virginia Loehr, two grandchildren Willow Shaw and Lauren Shaw, and her husband of sixty years Kermit Neumann. She is survived by her brother Charles A. Riniker, her sister Jayne Hardy, two daughters Cheryl Snyder and Rosanne Shaw, her son Rod Neumann, nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild and numerous other relatives. The funeral service for Mrs. Neumann was held Saturday, Jan. 21, at Waltrip Funeral Directors Chapel in Houston. Her interment was at the New Ulm Cemetery. Shortly after graduation from high school, Rose Lee met her true love, Kermit Neumann. The couple married April 11, 1944 and moved to Houston after WW II. In 1950, the Neumanns bought a new home in Spring Branch, where they lived for more than half a century. In the 1950s their three children started school, and they grew to adulthood in the 60s. In the 70s, Kermit and Rose Lee welcomed two sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law. In the 70s and 80s, 11 grandchildren were born. In the first decade of this century, three grandsons-in-law were added to the family, and Rose Lee was looking forward to a fourth next month. The first great grandchild, Ella Lee Hippel, was born in November, 2004, and she was looking forward to her second one this March. At Christmas and Easter and many other times, their home overflowed with love and laughter. One of Rose Leešs passions was family history. As a result, she researched the genealogy of the various branches of the family tree. In 1987 she and Kermit traveled to Germany and Switzerland, where they visited their ancestral towns and she explored their roots. She was happy to share her genealogical discoveries with anyone who would listen, and she created several large notebooks of family history. Rose Lee was a member of the West End Historical Society and the Texas German Society. She inspired other family members to take an interest in genealogy. Rose Leešs favorite color was green, the color of life. Both she and her husband had green thumbs. Their back yard became a Garden of Eden. His large vegetable garden was complemented by her wide variety of flowering plants. She was active in the Shady Villa Garden Club. Rose Lee enjoyed sewing. Through the years, her creations for children and grandchildren included quilts, curtains, Christmas stockings, and even a flower girl dress. Additional hobbies included ceramics, tole painting, and other crafts. Kermit and Rose Lee loved to dance. On Valentinešs Day in 1937, they first met at a dance in Cat Spring, Texas. Through many years of married life, they made regular trips to that area on weekends to attend dances. Advancing age and declining health ended those excursions, but Rose Leešs legacy of self-less love for her family and friends will live on for many generations. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Texas German Society or to Texas Childrenšs Hospital Research Hematology Dept., 6621 Fannin, Houston, Texas 77030. Posted by Joy Neely
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