Kurt Max Walter Niemann Jr.

Kurt Max Walter Niemann, Jr., lovingly known as Max, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2022, after a 6-year fight with cancer. True to his badass nature, Max persevered through chemotherapy, all by himself, until he just could not fight anymore. He is a hero, our hero, and represents the best of all of us.

Max was born on March 16, 1959, to Violet and Kurt Niemann in Birmingham, Alabama. He spent most of his youth in Birmingham and Virginia, before moving to Pennsylvania where he spent time with lots of cousins. With his father’s transfer as Chief of Orthopedics to UAB, his family returned to Mountain Brook where Max went to school and became the starting left tackle on Mountain Brook High School’s football team that won back-to-back State Championships in 1975 and 1976, for the first and only time in school’s history. Max loved football and maintained friendships with many of his former teammates throughout his life.

In addition to football, Max loved the Harley Davidson Fat Boy he purchased upon his initial diagnosis of cancer. He loved taking weekend rides on the back roads wearing his quintessential Harley leather jacket and head scarf. He loved being outdoors and taking in the scenery as he rode along simply enjoying the solitude of the journey.

Max also loved fishing by the river and on Lake Martin at his family’s lake house with his brother Eric and friends. Max longed for a trip to Montana to fish, and planned how he was going to get there – on his Harley.

Max’s biggest love and most prized possession was his daughter, Jessica. The pride and joy he had for Jessica showed every time he saw her and in his demeanor every time you brought up her name, which by the way she got from the song entitled "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers. He loved and was proud of how hard working and serious Jessica was with her studies and pursuit of her desire to get her Masters. Jessica is his legacy, one of kindness, gentleness, love, and hard work.

Max worked at Resource Label Company, f/k/a Ray Label Company for 44 years. On August 5th, the company held a retirement party for him celebrating his tenure and hard work even as he was undergoing chemotherapy. Max’s work ethic was truly honorable and is to be applauded.

Max is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his nephew Holden Viers.

He is survived by his daughter Jessica Niemann, his sister Susan Niemann Viers and husband Glenn Viers, their children Elizabeth Rodger, her husband, Mark Reese, their children James Rodger and Jack Reese, Alexandra Viers Soffer, her husband, Brian, Max’s other sister Rebecca Niemann Forbes, husband David, their children Logan Forbes, wife Alaina, and Clay Forbes, and his brother Eric Niemann, wife, Laura Niemann and their children Courtney Niemann, Hannah Niemann, and Colton Niemann.

A Celebration of Life will take place on November 5th from 1:00-3:30 at On Tap Bar and Grill at 11967 Liberty Parkway, Vestavia Hills, AL 35242