Albert Nehm Jr.

As his family and friends can surely attest, Albert Nehm Jr. truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times, and he always had an encouraging word to say. Nothing brought Albert greater joy than spending time with his loved ones, even in the simplest of moments. He was well known for his solid work ethic, which provided a strong example for those around him to aspire for. Deeply loved, Albert will be forever missed by those who knew him best.
Although the 1930s were primarily defined by the dark days of the Great Depression, there were times of great hope, too. It was during this time that we celebrated the completion of the Empire State Building as well as the first annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as the official kickoff to the holiday season. Despite the challenges around them, this was a time of great joy in the lives of Albert and Hazel (VanBrocklin) Nehm as they announced the birth of the baby boy they named Albert Jr. on May 29, 1938, in Hart, Michigan.
Growing up, Albert was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised alongside his older brother, Gordon, and his younger sister, Carol. During the school months, Albert lived with his mother and then spent the weekends and the summer working with his father, Farmer Brown, in Scottville. The farm had milk cows and honeybee hives. As a child, Albert enjoyed fishing, especially in Muskegon, where his mother lived. He graduated from high school in 1956, ready to move on to bigger and better things.
Following his graduation, Albert felt the call to serve his country. He joined the Air Force as an instrument airplane mechanic. During his four years of service, Albert was stationed in Maine and often spoke fondly of the fishing and hunting in the area. He was also stationed in the Philippines for a time. Albert later enjoyed sharing stories of his time in the military.
New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Albert as he met the woman who would quickly become the love of his life. Her name was Virginia Robarge, and the two first met at an Air Force Halloween dance in October of 1962. Albert and Virginia felt an instant connection, and the rest is history as they say. Over time, their relationship blossomed into something truly special. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Albert and Virginia were married on July 13, 1963.
All who knew Albert can certainly agree that, of all the things he loved in life, he treasured his loved ones above all else. He and Virginia were overjoyed to welcome their three beloved children, Bruce, Rebecca, and Brenda, into their hearts and home. Albert truly thrived in his role as a father and always worked tirelessly to provide for his family. He also had a beagle dog named Boots, which was a treasured companion. Later in life, Albert was thrilled to become a grandfather to Eric Jr., Austin, and Ishan. He adored his grandchildren and doted on them whenever he could. Albert considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.
In order to support himself and his loved ones, Albert spent 30 years working at Besser Company. He retired in 1998 after 30 years of dedicated service. With farming in his blood, Albert continued farming and raising animals throughout his entire life as well. In addition to farming being a way of life, he and Virginia gardened to provide fresh food for their family.
Never one to sit still for long, Albert pursued many hobbies to stay busy in his free time. The Nehm family loved camping at Ess Lake and Grass Lake along with several other families, including the Hennings, the Hales, and Mary and Claude Robarge. Albert and Claude would always hunt, fish, and farm together. He enjoyed working in his wood shop, and he even built a barn with his father. Albert and Virginia liked camping and smoking fish with their fishing crew in Cedarville, Michigan, and they spent several winters in Alabama. Throughout their retirement years, the couple enjoyed square dancing and traveling to Hawaii with their dancing friends.
When reflecting on the life of Albert Nehm Jr., it is easy to see both his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He was always willing to go above and beyond to serve others, impacting the lives of so many others in such a special way. A loving husband and father, Albert was proud to watch his family tree grow to include so many loved ones he adored. His primary focus in life was fostering deep and personal relationships with those around him as his joy never came from the possessions he owned. Though he will be dearly missed, Albert leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.
Albert Nehm Jr., a resident of Turning Brook, formally of Lachine, passed away February 26, 2023. Family will receive friends on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at McWilliams Funeral Home from 9am until the time of the memorial service at 11am with Rev. Leslie Nye officiating. Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Michigan.