Ronald Eugene Niehaus, 68, of Litchfield, died on Sunday, March 31, 2019, at 6:21 p.m. at HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Becker and Son Funeral Home in Mt. Olive. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, April 4, beginning at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield with the Rev. Cynthia Munker officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Litchfield.
Mr. Niehaus was born April 18, 1950, in Litchfield, to Eugene Frank "Jeep" and Dolores Marie "Pete" (Schultz) Niehaus. He married Peggy Lee Williams on Feb. 2, 2002, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and she survives.
He attended grades kindergarten through third at Litchfield Zion Lutheran Grade School and transferred to Gillespie, graduating from Gillespie High School with the class of 1968.
Mr. Niehaus served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years, and went on to work at Jeep Niehaus and Sons in Mt. Olive. In June 2018, he retired from Boente Shell in Wood River.
He loved farming, family, tractors, his dogs Danny and Sally, gospel and country music, especially the song "Waterloo" by Stonewall Jackson, and attending the Hornsby Clipper Lawnmower Races. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Niehaus is survived by a son, Ryan (Susan) Machota of Staunton; three daughters, Jennie (Norm) Halpin of Carlinville, Amanda (Rob) Williamson of Edinburg and Wendi (Fred) Harbison of Staunton; nine grandchildren, Christopher, Mason and Olivia Halpin, Reyna and Clara Williamson, Zander and Anna Machota and Nicholas and Hunter Harbison; two brothers, Gary (Holly) Niehaus of Litchfield and Dennis Niehaus of Butler; and a sister, Brenda (Dennis) Cline of Litchfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Doris Jean Niehaus; and a sister-in-law, Beth Niehaus.
Memorials may be directed to Turner Hall in Mt. Olive, Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchfield or a food pantry of the donor's choice.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.beckerandson.com.
