Submitted by: Dan Rich

Fritz Wilhelm Ernest Nieman

May 16, 1903 - Dec. 20, 2001

South Bend Tribune 12/23/2001

After a wonderful and long life, Fritz Nieman died peacefully in Miller's Merry Manor, Wakarusa, on Thursday, Dec. 20th. He was formerly of South Bend. Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Niemann (Fritz) was born in Harburg, Germany, on May 16, 1903, to Carl Friedrich and Josefa (Thiel) Niemann, who have preceded him in death.

On March 5th, 1931, in Hamburg, Germany, he married Liesbeth Peters, who preceded him in death in February 1995. Fritz was also preceded in death by three sisters, Hedwig, Minna and Ellie, all of Hamburg.

After their marriage, Fritz and Liechen came to the United States and settled first in New York City and then Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, Fritz became a member of the Rosicrucian Order. He served for several years as Master. He was a maitre'd and head waiter at Gruber's restaurant and enjoyed serving celebrities such as Betty White, Bobby Short, and most of the Cleveland Indians. Before coming to South Bend he managed the Marina Towers Restaurant in Chicago. In South Bend, he "Mr. Fritz" was a maitre'd at the former Lido Restaurant and The Down Under. He was a charter member of the Forever Learning Institute and a longtime member of D.A.N.K. He enjoyed helping at Flint's Dance Studio. In his 90s he joined Grace United Methodist Church.

Fritz is survived by his daughter, Donna Flint; son-in-law, Jerry Flint; grandchildren, Sheri Gordon, Danny Flint, Sheila Snyder, Vicki Flint; and grandson-in-law, Chris Gordon. Fritz's great-grandchildren are Dustin Tyte, Halie and Christopher Gordon, Elijah Flint and Samantha Snyder.