My grandfather was Robert Lyle Reed.
He died in 1981 when I was 4 years old.
His business partner and close friend recently passed away and I just wanted to share this obituary with you all.
"Robert M. Neiman, a decorated Marine, San Fernando Valley philanthropist and pioneer of some of America's first do-it-yourself home centers, has died. He was 87.
The co-founder of the Neiman-Reed's Lumber City chain and winner of the prestigious Fernando Award for volunteerism died Feb. 7 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Indian Wells.
"A big flame has gone out," said Ed Langley, senior vice president for Neiman Reed Lumber Co. in Panorama City, an offshoot of the company Neiman co-founded in 1948.
"A legend lives on. ... He'll be truly missed."
Neiman was born Sept. 14, 1918, in Mount Vernon, N.Y. During World War II, he commanded C Company, 4th Tank Battalion, fighting in some of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific. He was one of the few officers to fight on both Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
The former Marine Corps colonel recounted his wartime experience in "Tanks on the Beaches: A Marine Tanker in the Pacific War," featured on the History Channel.
"I was standing there in the dark with orange-colored explosions all around, and all of a sudden I felt like I was floating above it in complete silence, watching rounds drop all around us," he recalled of the battle for Iwo Jima.
"`My gosh,' I thought, 'I'm dead! So this is what it feels like.'
"It really was not so bad, floating there over everything else. 'Well,' I said to myself, 'if this is what it's like to be dead, it's not too bad."'
He was not, of course. For his valor, Neiman was awarded the Navy Cross, three bronze stars and six battle stars.
After the war, he moved to Southern California and went into business with former tankmate Bob Reed.
Neiman-Reed Lumber and Supply Co. in Van Nuys grew to become the nation's biggest industrial lumber supplier. And their small retail counter that catered to thousands of do-it-yourself homeowners on the weekends evolved into Neiman-Reed's Lumber City in 1963. The chain, now California Do it centers owned by the Chatsworth-based Lumber City Corp., became synonymous with home improvement, with 14 stores throughout the greater San Fernando Valley.
After Reed's death in 1981, Neiman sold his wholesale lumber operation.
The Encino resident was honored with the 1993 Fernando Award for contributions to such organizations as Boy Scouts of America, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Jewish Big Brothers and California State University, Northridge.
"He was, through and through, a gentleman," said David Fleming, a Valley business leader and close friend. "He was the kind of guy people really looked up to ... way up there at the top of Valley leaders."
Neiman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Suzy; sons, the Rev. John Neiman of Temple City, Phillip of Valencia and Andy of Westlake Village; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Feb. 11 in Indian Wells.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Col. Robert M. Neiman Memorial Scholarship Fund, U.S. Marine Corps Scholarships, 205 Camino Arroyo North, Palm Desert, CA 92260."
