Robert Charles “Bob” Niese, age 85, of Shelby, passed peacefully Thursday, November 7, 2024 at The Willows at Willard. Bob’s death follows a 15-month battle with cancer.
Bob was born July 30, 1939 in Leipsic, Putnam County, Ohio, the son of the late Waldo and Cecilia (Rieman) Niese. Attending both Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School and Tiro High School, Bob then served in the Ohio Army National Guard for six years.
Bob was a proud lifelong farmer, farming on his homestead farm west of Shelby which was started in the 1960s- now R&R Niese Farms. Since coming from Putnam County, Bob belonged to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church and always said, “God’s crops will always be great in the eye of the church steeple.” Bob’s second career began in 1974 when he started Crawford Drainage Company, LTD. Since its inception, he has been tiling for many local farmers. It pleased him to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company this past March alongside his family and many faithful employees and friends. Family, farming, and church were his life.
Family meant so much to Bob. He thoroughly enjoyed getting up each morning and getting to farm with his son, Roger, and grandson, Owen. Later, his son, Ken, teamed up with him to help operate the drainage company. He also had many great memories attending farm shows with his brother, Joe. In his later years, Bob and his wife, Lil, got to travel to many places in the world which they enjoyed seeing but trips to visit their grandchildren as their lives and families grew were the most cherished.
At Sacred Heart, Bob was an usher and sang in the church choir for many years. He was a lifetime member of the Shelby Knights of Columbus Council #1968 and a lifetime member of the Land Improvement Contractor Association (LICA). Bob’s hobby was antique tractors which he began collecting later in life, especially Ford and Oliver tractors which were great memories from his childhood.
Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lillian A. (White) Niese, whom he wed on April 15, 1972 at Sacred Heart Church in Mt. Gilead. Also surviving are their children: Roger (Terri) Niese of Shelby, Kristi (Loren) Kranz of Shiloh, and Ken (Tina) Niese of Crestline; grandchildren: Kelsey (Josh) Dotson, Owen (Katlyn) Niese, Adi Niese, Leslie (Dave) Crump, Brooke (Braelen) Bader, Adam (Katie) Niese, Alyssa Niese, and Ashlynne Niese; great grandchildren, Eli Dotson, Grayson Niese, Hanes Crump, Banks Bader, and Avery Dotson. Sweet Avery’s birth came at nearly the exact minute of Bob’s passing- a true transition and joining of heaven and earth which we certainly believe to have been a miracle facilitated by God and Bob’s beloved late son, Charlie. Also surviving are brothers: Jerry (Carol) Niese, Tom (Dorothy) Niese, and Joe (Maxine) Niese; sister: Mary Ann (Bill) Tabor; in-laws: Shirley Niese, Martha (Merle) Ahrens, Margaret Franks, and Don (Loverna) White; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. In addition to his parents and son, Charlie, Bob was preceded in death by his beloved first wife: Dolores (Karl) Niese; brother: Jim Niese; mothers and fathers-in-law: Walter and Gertrude Karl and Lawrence and Ethel White; and in-laws: Miriam (Omer) Beatens, Buzz (Margie) Karl, Larry (Judy) White, and Noel Franks.
A very special thank you from the family goes to Marty Keller, Cheryl Rietschlin, Fr. Jeff Smith, Dr. Angela Novy, Dr. Pierre Giglio and his staff at The James Cancer Center, and the staff of the Willows at Willard for all their loving support and care provided to Bob and the Niese family.
Family and friends are welcome on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 3-7 pm at the Penwell Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, where a rosary will be recited at 7:15 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 11 am at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Bethlehem, Shelby Settlement, 5741 State Route 61, Shelby. Fr. Jeff Smith will celebrate the Mass with burial following in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Church or Shelby Knights of Columbus #1968.
Condolences may be made on Bob’s obituary on the funeral home’s website (PenwellFuneralHome.com) or their Facebook page (Facebook.com/PenwellFuneralHome).