Groff Funeral Homes
1607 East Perkins Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
Phone: 419-626-3632
Fax: 419-626-2445
Email: info@grofffuneralhomes.com
Website: http://www.grofffuneralhomes.com
View All Obituaries from Groff Funeral Homes
Relda Elaine (Grunder) Niederhofer, age 93, of Sandusky died August 21, 2021.
Relda was born April 15, 1928, in Creston, Ohio to Roy Sherman Grunder and Hazel Brooks Russell.
She graduated from Creston High School in 1946. Relda graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and in 1956 with a Master of Education Degree in Science. She did graduate work in biology with the Ohio State University.
Before coming to Sandusky in 1953, Relda taught one year in Pontiac, Michigan and one year in Richland County, Ohio. She taught for the Sandusky Public Schools for twelve years in both Junior High School and Senior High School. She taught biology part-time for BGSU evening classes at the Sandusky High School from 1957 to 1968. In 1969 she taught full time at the BGSU Firelands College in Huron, Ohio. She retired as an Assistant Professor Emertia of Biology in 1991 with 40 years teaching credit.
Relda married James William Niederhofer on December 28, 1952 and moved to Sandusky in the spring of 1953. They were blessed with a daughter, Sandra born in 1962.
Relda was a board member of the McBride Arboretum on the Huron campus of BGSU Firelands. As a board member of the Erie County Historical Society she researched and wrote the story of the Firelands for two bronze historical markers - one was placed at the Firelands Regional Hospital in Sandusky and the other at BGSU Fireland College in Huron. She was deeply interested in Horticulture Therapy for Senior citizens and started a volunteer program at Erie County Care Facility in 1982. She continued this work with the help of members of the Huron Garden Club. She was president of the Huron Garden Club from 2004-6 and also the College Women's Club of Sandusky from 2000-1. She was a member of the Ohio Academy of Science and the Ohio Academy of Medical History.
After she retired, Relda spent much of her time researching her family history. She joined several Genealogy Societies both in Ohio and Florida. She recorded her family histories to give a voice to those who could no longer speak.
She wrote four histories which covered her mother, father and husband's lives.
In 1998 she co-authored a biography of Edwin Lincoln Moseley, Naturalist, Scientist, and Educator with Dr. Ronald L. Stuckey of The Ohio State University.
Relda, received several awards: an Outstanding Teaching Award in 1975and The Dean's Recognition Award in 1998 from BGSU Firelands College; the BGSU Center for Archival Collections Local History Publication Award for the Edwin L. Moseley book in 2000; First Families of Ohio award in 2001 and Civil War Families in 2009 both from the Ohio Genealogy Society; the Women of Excellence Award in 2010 and the Outstanding Garden Club Member Award from the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs that same year.
She is survived by her daughter, Sandra (David) White; step-son, James David Niederhofer; step-daughter-in-law, Judy Niederhofer; three step- grandchildren, J .D. Niederhofer, Heather Dawn O'Dor, and Jamin Niederhofer, and two step-great-grandchildren, Derek Niederhofer and Jayne O'Dor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James William Niederhofer; parents, Roy and Hazel Grunder; two brothers, Carlyle Russell Grunder and Ralph Eugene Grunder.
Relda enjoyed gardening, floral crafts, boating, local and medical history and genealogy.
Friends may call on Friday, August 27, 2021 from 12:00 pm until the time of funeral services at 1:00 pm at Groff Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1607 E. Perkins Ave., Sandusky. Rev. Jerald Fenske will officiate. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky.
Those wishing to contribute to Relda's memory may do so to the James H. McBride Arboretum - Unrestricted Funds, at BGSU Firelands College, 1 University Dr., Huron, OH 44839.
Condolences may be shared online at www.grofffuneralhomes.com
