Memorial Services
Visitation: 3 to 7 p.m. today at Center Pointe Christian Church, 5962 Hamilton- Mason Road
Funeral service: 10 a.m. Monday at Center Pointe Church
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
LIBERTY TWP. — The annual Christmas Walk and Fall Festival at Niederman Family Farms won’t ever be the same.
The farm’s owner, Bob Niederman, died Wednesday. He is survived by his wife, Bethann, and their five children. Mr. Niederman, who was 45, was diagnosed with large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma April 1.
The family’s 11th annual Christmas Walk will continue as planned because it’s what “Bobby” would have wanted, family members said.
Mr. Niederman, a Lakota High School and Ohio State University graduate, was the visionary behind the farm and family business, currently hosting its free walk-through Christmas display. Mr. Niederman farmed the land until the paintball, boat storage, fall festival, spring tours and inn pieces of the business became too busy, said his father, Bob. The efforts to diversify the business were a way to save the farm that lost land over the years to housing subdivisions and development, the elder Niederman said.
The April diagnosis was Mr. Niederman’s second case of cancer, but he never complained, said the family.
“I think you could probably sum my uncle up in four Fs: farming, faith, family, fun,” said his nephew, Brian. “Faith was the number one thing in his life.”
Niederman’s sisters, Cindy, Nancy and Debbie, said he was an awesome brother and a people magnet. He was so giving (that) it was hard for him to receive help this past year, Debbie said. “When in reality, they were paying him back,” she said.
The elder Niederman said his son’s faith grew despite the struggle with his health.
“He was the type of man any father would be proud to call a son,” he said.
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