Thomas James Niethammer (1947-2024) Thomas James (Tom) Niethammer, longtime APS worker, died on Jan. 11, 2024, at his home in Glendale, Arizona. He was born in Elgin, Illinois, Oct. 7, 1947. The family moved to Prescott in the spring of 1952 where his parents, George and Maxine Niethammer, purchased a motel in Granite Dells, between Willow and Watson Lakes. With his sister, Carolyn, neighborhood kids and cousins, he made the boulders of Granite Dells his playground. As a 4-H member in high school, he adopted a retired horse called Darkie and rode him through the area delivering the Prescott Evening Courier. Eventually he acquired another horse and even a pregnant heifer named Vicky. After a short stint at the University of Arizona College of Agriculture, Tom decided he’d be better off in the working world and held a series of jobs. He studied to become a farrier and worked for a while at Turf Paradise Race Track. He went to work for Arizona Public Service, working for several years at the APS power plant near Joseph City, eventually transferring to APS Phoenix. Because he often worked nights, weekends and holidays, his co-workers at APS became a surrogate family. Tom was an accomplished photographer, even turning his bathroom into a dark room to do his own developing. He took photos of travels in Egypt and West Africa and the West. He was also an avid outdoorsman, hiking, camping, and even canoeing solo down the Green River. At home, he was an excellent cook. When Tom made a pumpkin pie, he started with the pumpkin. Upon retirement, Tom moved to Prescott for several years, eventually returning to the Phoenix area. Tom is survived by his sister, Carolyn Niethammer, and long-time companion Shawn Fernandez. His ashes will be scattered in various spots around Prescott where his heart lay. Services are pending.