Viola M. "Vi" Niemann was born on March 28, 1922, in Seward the daughter of John and Christine (Gehlbach) Ehlers and passed away on February 26, 2017, in Seward at the age of 94 years, 10 months and 29 days. Vi grew up west of Staplehurst on the family farm. She attended school at Zion Lutheran School (Marysville) just north of the church.

On April 30, 1944, Vi married Melvin "Mac" Niemann at Zion Lutheran Church. God blessed this marriage with two children, a son and a daughter. Together they farmed west of Saplehurst until 1968, when Vi and Mac purchased Sports Tavern. They operated Sports until 1976, when the couple retired. Vi was a faithful member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and the Staplehurst Community Club.

Vi was preceded in death by her parents; husband Mac in 2000; grandson David Daehling; brother John Jr. and sister Oretta Richters.

She is survived by her daughter, Patty Daehling and husband Stuart of Staplehurst, son, Bruce Niemann and wife Karen of South Bend, IN; four grandchildren, Shelli Rossen and fiancé Walt Traudt, Brent and wife Leah Daehling, Gregory and wife Veronica Soltys-Niemann, Jeremy Niemann; five great-grandchildren: Derek Rossen, Jake Rossen, Emily Soltys-Niemann, Bryan Soltys-Niemann, Phillip Soltys-Niemann: sister-in-law Esther Niemann and a host of relatives and friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Vi.