William Niehaus

William Robert Niehaus of Chelsea, MI, passed away on March 12th, 2026, at the age of 81. Bill was born in 1944 to Robert and Marjorie Niehaus of Grass Lake, Michigan. He grew up causing mischief in Grass Lake and graduated from Grass Lake High School in 1962. He married his wife, Cheryl, in 1972. (They recently celebrated their 54th anniversary.) They bought a beautiful old farmhouse in Chelsea and spent years restoring it and making it their own with a pool, gardens, sunflowers, and space for their many pets. Bill had a special love for animals and had many over the years, including a goat (Domino), a ferret (Buffy), and many cats and dogs. Bill drove a semi-truck for many years for both Midwest Natural Foods and Roadway, spending countless hours on the Ohio Turnpike. After retiring from driving a truck, he worked as a school bus driver and a driver's education instructor. He then owned and operated the Village Creamery in Brooklyn for 10 years, serving up Billy bars and ice cream to the community. Bill was fortunate to travel the world with Cheryl and made many friends along the way. He enjoyed watching the elephants on safaris in Africa and feeding the seagulls in the Outer Banks. He was always planning his next trip. He also enjoyed traveling within Michigan, especially to Detroit.Bill loved music and attended more concerts than we can count. His taste ranged from Jack White to the Rolling Stones to Bad Bunny. He would often turn up the volume and say, "If it's too loud, you're too old". He was also an avid car and sports enthusiast, enjoying watching Formula 1 and cheering on the Michigan Wolverines. Bill loved a good party and a good debate on most any topic, especially politics. He was curious about world events and was an avid reader. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and will be greatly missed. Bill is survived by his wife Cheryl, his daughters, Angela (John) Kennedy and Kim (Joe) Gardner, his grandchildren, Lauren, Zach, Bennett and Clara, his brother John (Nancy) Niehaus, his son-in-law Gregg Goble, his previous wife and mother of Brigitte and Angela, Jennifer Poltl, his Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Mickey, and two cats. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Marjorie Niehaus, his daughter Brigitte Goble, and many beloved pets. The family will host a Celebration of Life later this summer. Donations can be made in Bill's memory to the Humane Society of Huron Valley or the Nature Conservancy. Bill leaves behind many memories, many stories, and probably a few unfinished arguments.