At the age of 18, I enlisted in the United States Air Force to serve my country. After starting a family with my wife, Donna, we returned to Michigan to join my family funeral home business to serve our community.
My name is Douglas “Dutch” Nie II and I am seeking to continue my service to the National Funeral Directors Association in the position of President-Elect.
I am a second-generation funeral director who grew up above my family’s funeral home, Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have worked every position in the funeral home – from car washer to owner of our multi-location funeral business. I’ve always felt that these experiences not only helped me to understand and appreciate how funeral service affects the families we serve, but also the effects it has on our funeral home “family” who help serve our community.
During the course of my life, I have been drawn to positions of service towards others. Locally, I have extensive experience serving and leading many executive boards, including service clubs, non-profits, and educational organizations in the Ann Arbor-area.
On a state-level, I have been an active and dedicated member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association (MFDA) serving on many committees, as well as all offices from district officer to state president. I continue to serve the MFDA as a trustee of the Michigan Mortuary Science Foundation (MMSF). In addition, I was a founding member and the First Commander of the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT) which started as an MFDA Committee and now is the State of Michigan’s Mass Fatality Resource.
Nationally, I currently serve on the NFDA Board of Directors as the Treasurer and have served on many committees and task forces over the last 15 years. My commitment to serve on a national level has extended into projects with the ABFSE and the ICFSEB.
During the last five years as a member of the Board of Directors, I have become well acquainted with NFDA’s mission and vision for the Association and its members. I have also been involved in creating the NFDA Strategic Plan and understand how the budget and activities of the organization are linked to each item of the Plan to ensure its overall success.
As I began considering running for an At-Large position on the NFDA Board of Directors, I researched the required time commitments serving on the Board would entail and understood that each office would require more involvement. I have a talented and trustworthy team in place at the funeral home which has allowed me to make the necessary staffing adjustments to accommodate the needs of NFDA. My position at the funeral home allows me the necessary time required to be responsive to the needs of the Association, including communications and travel to represent the Association in-person at conventions, meetings, and seminars.
Over the years, my family has been an encouraging support system for me while I pursued my goals both at the state and national levels. Donna, my wife of 37 years, often attends both state and national conventions with me. Together, we have raised four wonderful children, Jacob, Jesse, Natalie, and Jordan, who understand the importance of the work our family provides to the community we serve. Additionally, Donna and I help raise two of our great-nieces, Dallas and Sophia, and look after our funeral home grief therapy dog, Harper Grace. Most recently, during the pandemic, we became grandparents, first with the welcome of Winifred, and exactly one year later, Elizabeth. The two of them have brought endless joy to our lives. I am blessed to have a family that supports the time commitment involved with my longstanding NFDA endeavors.
As I look upon the scope of my profession, I realize that my involvement in serving on numerous local, state, and national committees and boards has prepared me to be able to lead the NFDA in carrying out the goals and ideals of our mission. I strongly feel that my tenure with the NFDA has provided me a complete understanding of the Associations interworking’s and will help me serve the members as the next President-Elect.
My name is Douglas “Dutch” Nie II and I am seeking to continue my service to the National Funeral Directors Association in the position of President-Elect.
I am a second-generation funeral director who grew up above my family’s funeral home, Nie Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have worked every position in the funeral home – from car washer to owner of our multi-location funeral business. I’ve always felt that these experiences not only helped me to understand and appreciate how funeral service affects the families we serve, but also the effects it has on our funeral home “family” who help serve our community.
During the course of my life, I have been drawn to positions of service towards others. Locally, I have extensive experience serving and leading many executive boards, including service clubs, non-profits, and educational organizations in the Ann Arbor-area.
On a state-level, I have been an active and dedicated member of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association (MFDA) serving on many committees, as well as all offices from district officer to state president. I continue to serve the MFDA as a trustee of the Michigan Mortuary Science Foundation (MMSF). In addition, I was a founding member and the First Commander of the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT) which started as an MFDA Committee and now is the State of Michigan’s Mass Fatality Resource.
Nationally, I currently serve on the NFDA Board of Directors as the Treasurer and have served on many committees and task forces over the last 15 years. My commitment to serve on a national level has extended into projects with the ABFSE and the ICFSEB.
During the last five years as a member of the Board of Directors, I have become well acquainted with NFDA’s mission and vision for the Association and its members. I have also been involved in creating the NFDA Strategic Plan and understand how the budget and activities of the organization are linked to each item of the Plan to ensure its overall success.
As I began considering running for an At-Large position on the NFDA Board of Directors, I researched the required time commitments serving on the Board would entail and understood that each office would require more involvement. I have a talented and trustworthy team in place at the funeral home which has allowed me to make the necessary staffing adjustments to accommodate the needs of NFDA. My position at the funeral home allows me the necessary time required to be responsive to the needs of the Association, including communications and travel to represent the Association in-person at conventions, meetings, and seminars.
Over the years, my family has been an encouraging support system for me while I pursued my goals both at the state and national levels. Donna, my wife of 37 years, often attends both state and national conventions with me. Together, we have raised four wonderful children, Jacob, Jesse, Natalie, and Jordan, who understand the importance of the work our family provides to the community we serve. Additionally, Donna and I help raise two of our great-nieces, Dallas and Sophia, and look after our funeral home grief therapy dog, Harper Grace. Most recently, during the pandemic, we became grandparents, first with the welcome of Winifred, and exactly one year later, Elizabeth. The two of them have brought endless joy to our lives. I am blessed to have a family that supports the time commitment involved with my longstanding NFDA endeavors.
As I look upon the scope of my profession, I realize that my involvement in serving on numerous local, state, and national committees and boards has prepared me to be able to lead the NFDA in carrying out the goals and ideals of our mission. I strongly feel that my tenure with the NFDA has provided me a complete understanding of the Associations interworking’s and will help me serve the members as the next President-Elect.
"I personally endorse Dutch Nie as the President-Elect position to the NFDA Board of Directors.
Dutch has demonstrated his leadership, commitment and passion for the Funeral Service Profession as a Board Member and Past President of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Creating a Championship Team, engaging board members, increasing MFDA membership, member services and member satisfaction. Dutch has been the critical catalyst in creating and leading the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT), the national model for State mass fatality disaster response. Dutch has been an efficient and effective participate and spokesperson for the REAL Project. Dutch has served and participated in both the national and state associations on committees, work groups, task force, leadership, advocacy and conventions. Dutch has been instrumental and an inspirational leader in all aspects of the Funeral Service Profession through education, training, mentoring, engaging, advocacy and leadership development.
Dutch Nie is a proven leader in his business, in his community, in his state and in his profession. Dutch has dedicated his life to service, to his country, his state and his profession. Dutch has consistently and constantly demonstrated his leadership capabilities dedicated to improving his profession’s service to families, communities, states and nationally.
I would definitely highly recommend the NFDA Members elect Dutch Nie as the next President-Elect to the NFDA Board of Directors."
Timothy J. Schramm, CFSP, CCO, CMFP
Past President Michigan Funeral Directors Association
Participant of the NFDA Vision for the Future Workgroup
Commander of the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT)
President/CEO of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Dutch has demonstrated his leadership, commitment and passion for the Funeral Service Profession as a Board Member and Past President of the Michigan Funeral Directors Association. Creating a Championship Team, engaging board members, increasing MFDA membership, member services and member satisfaction. Dutch has been the critical catalyst in creating and leading the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT), the national model for State mass fatality disaster response. Dutch has been an efficient and effective participate and spokesperson for the REAL Project. Dutch has served and participated in both the national and state associations on committees, work groups, task force, leadership, advocacy and conventions. Dutch has been instrumental and an inspirational leader in all aspects of the Funeral Service Profession through education, training, mentoring, engaging, advocacy and leadership development.
Dutch Nie is a proven leader in his business, in his community, in his state and in his profession. Dutch has dedicated his life to service, to his country, his state and his profession. Dutch has consistently and constantly demonstrated his leadership capabilities dedicated to improving his profession’s service to families, communities, states and nationally.
I would definitely highly recommend the NFDA Members elect Dutch Nie as the next President-Elect to the NFDA Board of Directors."
Timothy J. Schramm, CFSP, CCO, CMFP
Past President Michigan Funeral Directors Association
Participant of the NFDA Vision for the Future Workgroup
Commander of the Michigan Mortuary Response Team (MI-MORT)
President/CEO of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.