LOVELAND — James Kramer Heidrich revolutionized the margarine industry by adapting the technology used to manufacture shortening.

        “Everybody in the world adapted what he did” to manufacture their margarine, said his son, James Kramer Heidrich Jr. of Indian Hill. “I used to tease him, 'If you'd have patented the system, we wouldn't need to make margarine.”'

        Mr. Heidrich, former owner of the Miami Margarine Co., which made Nu-Maid Margarine, died of heart failure Saturday at The Lodge Care Center in Loveland. The longtime Oak Hills resident was 90.

        In the 1930s all margarine manufacturers, including Miami Margarine, processed their product by hand. In 1937, Mr. Heidrich began working with a machine shop to devise a votator, a device similar to an ice cream-making machine that was already being used to cool and crystallize shortening.

        He made the proper adjustments (for example, margarine had to be processed in stainless-steel containers because of its moisture and salt content, and required higher pressure pumps). He also used ammonia to cool it instead of the usual brine.

        The result was a more efficient way to produce margarine that was of better quality. By the end of World War II, margarine manufacturers worldwide were using Mr. Heidrich's system. Miami Margarine, which manufactured Nu-Maid and private labels, produced more than 10 million pounds of margarine, using the new technology until the company was sold in 1993.

        Mr. Heidrich also ran Happy Hills Farm, a Guernsey milk farm in Oak Hills that he bought from his father in 1956.

        Mr. Heidrich was born in Dayton, Ky., in 1911. His family moved to Cincinnati when he was a boy. A 1933 graduate of Miami University, he was also an Eagle Scout and longtime supporter of the Boy and Girl Scouts.

        He supported the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Taft Museum of Art, the Cincinnati Zoo and the Westwood First Presbyterian Church.

        Mr. Heidrich was a member of the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, National Association of Margarine Manufacturers, Western Hills Country Club, Presidents Club of Miami University Merry Makers and the Cincinnati Travel Club.

        He was preceded in death by Roberta Baker Heidrich, his wife of 52 years, in 1987, and Bernice Blankenbuehler Myers Heidrich, his wife of 11 years, in 2000.

        In addition to his son, survivors include two daughters, Sally Dessauer of Westwood and Molly Jansen of Harrison; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

        Visitation is 1-2 p.m. Saturday followed by a memorial service at Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave., Westwood. Burial is in Spring Grove Cemetery.

        Memorials: Westwood First Presbyterian Church, 3011 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati 45211, or a charity of the donor's choice.

County gives $100,000 to Classic
Solutions sought for storm runoff troubles
Twitty set to speak out today
Increasing drug prices upset Price Hill seniors
Nice green lawn? It's long gone
Greenhills residents: Don't close library
Obituary: James Heidrich, revolutionized margarine
Soul fest won't bow to city boycott
West Nile virus detected in Butler mosquito pool
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: Investment plan
RADEL: Blame it on wind
Alert officer lauded
Former Lebanon manager applies for post
Mason schools OK building
Officer suspended over sex charges
Plea deal in kidnap case
Pupils learn art, tech
Security tight at Dayton Air Show
Advertisement draws attention to phone issue
Controversial charter school that serves homeless kids may close
Ex-trooper guilty in shooting of wife
Group wants priest files to be public
Ninth death row inmate files appeal
Studded horseshoes used by Amish damaging roads
Taft promotes golf tournament at Indiana casino
Taft urges Feds to OK increases in spending for highway projects
Two charged in 'road rage' during funeral procession
Village orders ramp removed
Woman arrested while praying at ancient Indian mound
Docked Ind. boats worry racetrack officials
Kentucky News Briefs
N.Ky. teachers paid better than most
Town insists no room for porn
UK may end airlifts to hospital