Dr. William Nijem

Dr. William C. Nijem, 63, lifelong resident of Valdosta, died suddenly on Friday, December 1, 2006 at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on September 22, 1943 in Valdosta, he was the son of the late Fred Joseph and Josephine Demetree Nijem.

He was a veteran of the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971, during which time he served for one year as a Forward Strike Commander in Southeast Asia.

Mr. Nijem was a Doctor of Cardiology. In 1966, he received his B.S. Degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama and received his MD Degree graduating in the Inaugural Class of 1975 from the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida. He completed his Internship in 1976 and his Residency in 1978 at the University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa and his Fellowship of Cardiology at the Medical College of Georgia, August, Georgia in 1980. He was appointed to the South Georgia Medical Center Staff on February 25, 1980 and in 1982, he performed the first cardiac catherization in Valdosta. In 2004, he retired from private practice and transferred to the South Georgia Medical Center Honorary Staff on January 1, 2005.

He was devoted to woodworking and loved the outdoors and taking care of his land and animals. He was a devoted husband, father, and was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Survivors are his wife, Julie Fain Nijem of Valdosta; son, William C. Nijem, Jr. of Valdosta; daughter, Summer Nijem of Atlanta; stepdaughters, Jourdan Coker of Nashville, TN and Kaylan Coker of Valdosta; brothers and sister-in-law, Father Fred Nijem of Warner Robbins, Dr. Richard and Claudia Nijem of Valdosta; nieces and nephews, April (Ferrell, Jr.) Scruggs, Tommy (Debbie) Nijem, Alyson (Kim) Lerstang all of Valdosta; father-in-law, Rodney (Denise) Fain of Valdosta; mother-in-law, Jane (Jack) Anthony of Alexander City, AL; sister and brother-in-law, Rhonda and Robert Gaskins of Dadeville, AL; sister-in-law, Sheri and Mark Larimore of Montgomery, AL and his dear friend, Quinton Neloms of Valdosta.

A funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 4, 2006 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father Fred Nijem officiating. Entombment will follow in the Mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. A Rosary will be at 6 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2006 at the church with visitation following until 8 p.m. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Lowndes County Human Society or Dasher Heart Center at South Georgia Medical Center. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602