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June 27, 2025The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Music will be by Jane Heithoff and the St. John Choir. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Sarah Smith and Robin Lawler. Gift Bearers will be Jadeyn Smith, Kora Obrecht, and Mara Obrecht. Eucharistic Minister will be Zita Sibenaller. Casket Bearers will be Jeremy Smith, Rick Lawler, Bryce Obrecht, Jadeyn Smith, Kora Obrecht, Blayne Smith, Mara Obrecht, and Jase Lawler. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Russ Schroeder, Neil Glass, Bill Ranninger, Tony Vonnahme, Paul Hinners, Scott Hinners, Doug Schuette, and Justin Brannan. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery in Arcadia.
Visitation is from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 P.M. There will be no visitation at the church on Wednesday morning prior to the Funeral Mass. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Steve’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Steve, born on April 23, 1954, was the firstborn son of Leroy and Corinne (Schroeder) Niehaus of Arcadia. He attended grade school at St. John’s in Arcadia and graduated from Kuemper in 1972.
After graduating, he began his lifelong career in farming. At first, he farmed with his father and then eventually with his brother, Jim. And when nephews-in-law and great-nieces and nephews came along, he relished teaching them how to farm the family land. Countless hours were spent out in the field or fixing equipment together as a family. Steve also found enjoyment in helping the great-nieces and nephews raise whatever animal they brought to the farm. At times, he wasn’t overly ecstatic about it, but he looked forward to the kids coming out to the farm to care for the animals. Over the years, he found himself raising dogs, cows, pigs, horses, chickens, peacocks, rabbits, guineas, and ducks.
In 1985 his mother passed away. Steve then spent the next 25 years taking care of his father. Often, Steve and Leroy could be seen cruising the countryside and checking on all the happenings in Arcadia and the surrounding area. After Leroy passed away in 2010, Steve continued with those same activities, but it wasn’t quite the same without his sidekick.
Steve also spent much time attending his nieces’, great-nieces’ and nephews’ activities over the years. He was always going to someone’s game. He excitedly looked forward to the two weekends in December spent deer hunting with them all. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching Westerns, and tending his large garden with pumpkins and gourds being his specialty. And at the end of the day he enjoyed sitting on his porch with a nice cold Twisted Tea.
Steve was greeted at Heaven’s gates by his parents; a nephew-in-law, Ben Obrecht; his grandparents Henry and Elizabeth (Olberding) Niehaus and Walter and Marina (Eike) Schroeder; and many other special relatives and friends.
He is survived by his brother Jim (Barb) Niehaus of Arcadia; nieces Sarah (Jeremy) Smith and Robin (Rick) Lawler all from Arcadia; great-nieces and nephews: Jadeyn and Blayne Smith;
Bryce, Kora, and Mara Obrecht; and Jase Lawler; his aunts Mary Ann Sibenaller of Roselle and Caroline Niehaus of Denison; and his uncles Roland (Joyce) Niehaus of Omaha and Stanley Schroeder of Arcadia.