Jon Neidlinger, brother of Nora Napientek and co-owner of nora fleming, passed away in a car accident on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019.

“As you can imagine for a small business rooted in family, losing him is absolutely devastating to the many people who loved him,” said Janice Christensen, director of communications and branding.

Neidlinger was recently honored by Gift Shop as a recipient of the Gift + Stationery 40 Under 40 Award. Neidlinger never imagined he’d be involved in the home and gift industry, but when his sister Nora approached him with an amazingly creative idea, he knew he could add the business acumen needed for success. From product development and sourcing to licensing and collaborations, Jon is involved in all facets of the business. Fifteen years later, the foundation of family first and celebrating simplified gift giving remains at the core of nora fleming.

The nora fleming company, based in Illinois, is rooted in family and was founded in an environment of trust, laughter and hard work. The brother-sister co-owners have discovered the secret to growing a brand steadily and deliberately while creating a company whose mission is to bring joy to every table. Their unique servingware has simplified the entertaining process and garnered fans of their products around the globe.