HERMITAGE, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – Irving Francis “Irv” Niemi, Jr., 84 of Hermitage, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2023, in his home.

Mr. Niemi was born on July 20, 1938, in Dearborn, Michigan, a son of the late Irving and Pauline (Maheras) Niemi, Sr.

He was a 1956 graduate of Sharpsville High School and spent six years in the PA National Guard. While in the National Guard, he was in the artillery unit and earned the expert M1 Carbine badge.

He was employed for more than 35 years for Western and Southern Insurance, retiring as the sales manager for the Hermitage office.

Irv was an avid hunter and target shooter. He was a member of the NRA, White Oak Gun Club, Greenville and the Western Reserve Fish and Game, Lackawannock Township. He owned and operated a gunsmithing shop out of his home for many years. His passion for hunting instilled a love for Black Labs. Not only did he train them to retrieve game but things around his home, like slippers and the newspaper. He also enjoyed watching baseball and was a fan of the Detroit Tigers.

He is survived by his wife, the former Naomi Hauger, whom he married on September 2, 1961; two sons, Tim Niemi and his wife, Tracy, Danville, California and Chris Niemi and his wife, Jeshabel, Tucson, Arizona; three grandchildren, Jessica Niemi and Naomi and Levi Niemi-Romero; two sisters, Sharon Ference and her husband, Francis, of Hermitage and Diane Emery of West Middlesex; one brother, Ted Niemi and his wife, Derise, of Hermitage and his beloved dog, Ellie.

In addition to his parents, Irv was preceded in death by a brother, John Niemi.

The family suggests memorial contributions be directed to Western Reserve Fish and Game, 1600 West Middlesex Road, Mercer, PA 16137.

Calling hours will be 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 East State Street, Sharon, where a funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m.

Interment will be in Morefield Cemetery, Hermitage.

A television tribute will air Tuesday, May 9 at the following approximate times: 5:17 a.m. on WKBN, 8:39 a.m. on FOX, 5:21 p.m. on WYTV and 6:35 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.