James Richard Neidhart was born in Portland, Oregon on July 8, 1934 to Walter George Neidhart and Elizabeth Arndt Neidhart, who both came to the US from Germany. With family at his side, Jim passed away at the age of 88 on January 12, 2023.
He grew-up in Portland with his siblings, George, Phil and Muriel (Roth) Neidhart, where they all attended Kennedy Elementary and Jefferson High School. Jim served in Japan as an Air Force air traffic controller during the Korean war, and received the GI bill to graduate with a Manufacturing engineering degree from Oregon State University. In 1960 he married Gail Mullen and they had 3 daughters, Linda, Laura and Lisa. During his career, he worked at Boeing, ESCO, Mater Machine Works, and for 3 decades owned and operated Camco, Inc. a manufacturing production shop in NW Portland.
Jim loved adventure, including dispersed group camping, dirt bike riding and white-water rafting. He was an avid mountaineer, serving as a trip leader for the Mazamas, and summiting many peaks in the US and Europe. He loved fast cars and faster women. He was an active member of Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Oregon Porsche Club of America, Alfa Romeo Owners Club and Portland Heights Dance Club. He loved playing pickle ball, wine tasting and entertaining friends. He also enjoyed time at his Arizona home, as well as traveling in South America, NE Asia, the South Pacific and Europe.
He is survived by his daughters, grandchildren Evan "James" and Elise, sister, son-in-laws, nieces and nephews, and longtime companion Jill Bushman. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Outward Bound to support youth outdoor expeditions ( https://www.outwardbound.org/donate/ ). Jim will be laid to rest with military honors at the Willamette National Veterans Cemetery, and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.