Cover photo for Ralph Henry Niehaus's Obituary
Ralph Henry Niehaus Profile Photo
1930 Ralph 2020

Ralph Henry Niehaus

January 15, 1930 — February 20, 2020

Ralph H. Niehaus

This son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend provided us with his love, his guidance, his smile, his faithfulness and kindness for 90 years!

Ralph was born in 1930 in Evansville, Indiana, to Paul and Matilda Niehaus, the second of their seven children. Growing up on the family farm and driving a tractor by age nine, agriculture was always an integral part of Ralph’s life. In high school he was an outstanding Vanderburgh County 4-H member, a graduate of Reitz vocational agriculture department, and president of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), where he won awards in public speaking competitions.

Ralph earned some scholarship money to attend college at Purdue University, but also worked many jobs, including digging ditches. The local newspaper published a short piece on him, concluding with the comments, “Don’t sell our young people short. They are still the best crop produced on the farm.”

Ralph married the love of his life, Marianna (Ann) Schultze in 1952, and after earning his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, he served in the Army in Colorado.  Following his discharge from the Army, he returned to Purdue for his Master of Science in Agriculture.

By the time they left Purdue, Ralph and Ann had three girls (Kathi, Beth and Vickie) with Terry Jean arriving after the move to Marshall.  It was a busy time for them!

Ralph lived his interest in Agriculture as a Farm Manager for many years, where he advised farm owners and, in the process, created many friendships.

Ralph loved his family, playing golf, fishing and hunting trips with friends. He especially enjoyed his 1920 Dodge Brothers Touring car, and if you attended a parade – or lived in Marshall – you may have seen him and heard the “ah-oogah” horn. He enjoyed his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  They always tried to steal his chair and he always offered to help finish their dessert.

Ralph will forever be in the hearts of his family; his wife, Marianna; his daughters, Kathi (Zack) Koczanski of Tampa, FL, Beth (John) Maurer of Duvall, WA, Vickie (Brian Carpenter) Niehaus of Ceresco, and in loving memory of Terry (Marvin) Dunn; his grandchildren, Miranda (Ryan) Bolton of Marshall, Katie (Jerame) McKereghan of Kirkland, WA, Lindsey (Kyle) Hughes of Marshall, Jill (Bo) Fuerstenberg of Marshall, John Wesley Maurer of North Bend, WA; his great grandchildren, Alexander and Hannah Hughes, Natalee and Conner Bolton, Jack and Owen McKereghan and Nora Jean Fuerstenberg.

The family will receive friends on Monday afternoon, February 24, 2020 at the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall, MI 49068 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.  A Memorial Service to celebrate the gift of his life will be held at 3:00 PM at the funeral home with Reverend Penny Pitts of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the Presbyterian Church or to the American Heart Association.  Assistance with memorials is available at the funeral home.

https://www.kempffuneralhome.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ralph Henry Niehaus, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, February 24, 2020

1:00 - 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Funeral Service (US)

Federal Forest Highway 13, Wetmore, MI 49895

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Monday, February 24, 2020

Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)

Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Funeral Service

Federal Forest Highway 13, Wetmore, MI 49895

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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