Ronda S. Nietch

Ronda Nietch, 81, of (city or village of Niles, died Friday, January 10, 2025 in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began August 19, 1943 in the first of four born to Alvin and Maxine Nussbaum. She married Charles Albert Nietch on January 26, 1963 in Muncie Indiana. He preceded her in death in 2019.

  Ronda graduated from Burris high school in Muncie Indiana in 1961. She went on to Ball State University where she met the love of her life, Charles Albert Nietch. They met at a dance, she was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and he was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. They moved to Niles in 1963 during a blizzard. She started a ceramics studio in her home called, Ceramics by Ronda from 1970 to 1976. For twenty-five years Ronda was the active owner of Garden Gate Flower shop in Buchanan. Her flower shop was like Cheers and if you visited, you had to work. She then had a second career at Meijer serving in various roles. In her retirement years, she worked part time at Booths Country Florist in Dowagiac. Ronda was an avid, daily golfer. She golfed four different leagues, mostly at Brookwood. For many years she was an advocate for deaf rights out of love for her daughter. Ronda loved the party, she always wanted people to have fun. Chuck and Ronda were weekly patrons of Pete’s Patio. Her children were there so much, they thought that was home cooking. In the summer, she shared lots of memories of fun with the Bauernfeind family, where the kids were almost raised as siblings. In her later years, what she loved most was spending time with her grandchildren. She let her grandchildren do whatever they pleased when they visited, they could get away with anything.

 Ronda will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by Two daughters, Annamarie (Mike) Waterman of Marcellus, Jennifer (Scott) Betzner of Niles; four grandchildren, Kristina (Philip) Hedges, Riley (Jasmin) Waterman, Spencer Waterman, Tiffani (Baylie) Alter;  two sisters, Jo Nussbaum Lenell (Peter) Nussbaum; one brothers, Jon (Kelly) Nussbaum and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Albert Nietch and her son, David James Nietch.

  The family will observe Ronda’s 19th hole in the spring.

  Contributions in memory of Ronda may be made to the Midge Tyler Tree of Love, c/o Lakeland Auxiliary Pawating, 31 North Saint Joseph Avenue, Niles, Michigan, 49120; or to The LGBTQ Center, 1522 East Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend, Indiana, 46615; https://www.thelgbtqcenter.org/ . Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com