Eugene H. 'Tipper' Niese

PUT-IN-BAY — Eugene H. "Tipper" Niese, 79, of Put-in-Bay, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in Stein Hospice Care Center, Sandusky.He was born May 13, 1937, in Ottawa, Ohio, the son of Walter and Marcella (Weis) Niese. He married Carol Hoersten on March 4, 1957, and she preceded him in death on Aug. 6, 1984. He graduated from Ottawa Glandorf High School, where he was vice president of his class. He was previously the Ottawa Fire Chief, and he coached basketball and had several businesses in Ottawa.Tip moved to Put-in-Bay in 1975 and took over the Island General Store. In 1979 he bought The Colonial, which housed The Beer Barrel and Tippers. The Colonial was leveled by a fire in 1988. Tipper rebuilt the Beer Barrel and Tippers and was currently the president of The Colonial Inc. He was a member of Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church. Tipper loved Put-in-Bay and was always giving back to the community. He was a generous contributor to many charities and events. He enjoyed talking with Islanders and Tourists.Surviving are his sons, Timothy Niese, Michael (Beth) Niese, Jeffery (Kelly) Niese; daughters, Tamara (Larry) Knaser, Pamela (Greg) Hughes, all of Put-in-Bay; grandchildren, Amy, Josh, Melissa, Celeste, Daniel, Timmy, Chad, Alex, Lucy; several great-grandchildren; and sister, Joyce Burkhart of Sylvania, Ohio.He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carol; children, Tippie and Kathy Niese; grandson, Bradley Hughes; and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Niese.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Nick Cunningham and Father Nathan Bockrath at noon Tuesday, April 18, at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, Put-in-Bay. Visitation will be from 1-4 p.m. Monday and from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Cornerstone Room of Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mapleleaf Cemetery, Put-in-Bay. Neidecker, LeVeck & Crosser Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Port Clinton, is handling the arrangements.Memorial contributions may be given to Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church, 632 Catawba Ave., Put-in-Bay, OH 43456; Put-in-Bay Fire & Rescue; Put-in-Bay Emergency Medical Services; or Stein Hospice, 1200 Sycamore Line, Sandusky, OH 44870.Condolences may be shared with the family at neideckerleveckcrosser.com.