JAMES CLIFFORD NEUMANN

James Clifford "Jim" Neumann, 86, of Miami Florida; formerly of Lincolnwood Illinois, passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2010. Jim was born October 5, 1923 at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago. He is survived by his loving sons, Mark (Abby), Bruce, and Paul; his former wife, Marilyn; brother, Richard (Eleene); grandsons, Ross and Brett; granddaughter, Jennifer; and nephews, Michael (Liliana), Gerald (Marcie). He was preceded in death by his brother, Howard "Budd" (Mary). A veteran of the Coast Guard in WW II, Jim served his country with great honor, and was very proud of his service. Jim was an avid golfer most of his adult life after starring as a All-City blocking back at Sullivan High School and on the softball fields of Chicago. Jim was the model for a "self made man." After his father died when he was 15 years old, Jim quickly became the man of the house and helped his mother raise his two younger brothers. Upon his discharge from the Coast Guard in 1945, he pumped gasoline at his uncle's service station until he had saved enough money to lease and eventually buy his first service station. He eventually built a business that grew into over a dozen gas station and car washes in the Chicago area. He was one of the pioneers in the "automatic" car wash industry in the 1960's. Though he worked long hours, he always found time to coach Little League baseball and attend Cubs and Bears games with his family. In the late 1950's when gas stations only sold gas, oil and anti-freeze, Jim began to sell cigarettes as well as dairy products from converted electric ice chests that he picked up as scrap. By the 1970's Sohio executives were picking his brain for his ideas that eventually lead to the convenience store / gas station / car wash combinations of today. Jim loved spending time with his good friends on the golf course and talking about sports, investments and world events. He got much enjoyment from spending sunny days with his "beach buddies" in his final years. Services will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago- 30 S. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60606