Detmar Franz Nieshalla

Detmar Franz Nieshalla – Loving, Kind, Gentle, Faithful – went to be with the Lord on Jan 18, 2023.Detmar was born in Germany, April of 1937, to Franz and Margarete Nieshalla. At the tender age of 8 years old, instead of a carefree life a typical child should have, he spent time running for his life, hiding in bunkers, and dodging bombs and bullets, caught in the throes of WWII. He learned to survive at an early age by collecting and selling metal to help his family make ends meet. He also had a great love of all things outdoors, often taking week-long bicycle trips with his friends.

Schooling provided him with a background in tool and die making.  At age 19 he left home and sailed to Canada to seek adventure and to find work. Following a year working in a gold mine, he moved to America, only to be quickly drafted by the US Army, then ironically, stationed back in Germany, where he served for almost two years. Following his service in the Army, Detmar returned to New York and put his tool and die making skills to work while also finding a community of other German immigrants at the Kolping Home in Manhattan. At the same time, Luitgard, having also just immigrated from Germany, was making her way on Wall Street.  Eventually their paths would cross, beginning what became 55 years of marriage and a family with 3 sons.

As he developed excellence in tool and die making, Detmar soon came across an opportunity to purchase a small machine shop. Stampex, as it is now known, grew into a successful manufacturing company, providing a good life for his family, and giving employment for many others through the years. Detmar grew up knowing of God, but it was not until later in life that the transforming power of Jesus Christ truly touched and changed him.  Anyone who met him was immediately put at ease by his kind, gentle, and humble ways as the light of Christ would shine through him.  His relationship with God became very personal as he experienced what it meant to be truly forgiven and redeemed.  In his latter years, he often looked back and expressed his gratitude for how God’s hand was always evident in his life.

Detmar is leaving behind an amazing legacy and is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Luitgard;

His son, Mark and wife Kristina  and their children, Grace, Chase and Alexis;

His son, Tom and wife Becky and their children, Arielle (Nieshalla) & husband Cameron Daxon, Annika, Aleah, Aiden, Asher, Asa, Aurick & Aramis; 

His son, Chris and wife Elise and their children Claire, Elisabeth, Christian and Eli.

Detmar is also survived by his sisters in Germany; Hiltrud and husband, Ernst Lebkuechler and their son Florian with wife, Bianka; Irmgard and husband, Klaus Adelmann and their children, Marie & Tobias.

A Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, March 4th 2023 at 11:00am at Grace Bible Church, 369 High Mountain Road, North Haledon, NJ. Please join family and friends for a time to honor Detmar’s life.

In lieu of flowers for the service, please consider donating to the following organizations which held a special place in the hearts of Detmar and Luitgard Nieshalla.  Mercy Ships, P.O. Box 2020, Garden Valley, TX., 75771. https://www.mercyships.org. Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC. 28607 https://www.samaritanspurse.org