Gretchen Niedermaier

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Gretchen Niedermaier of Chicago. Beloved daughter, sister, and granddaughter, Gretchen left us far too soon on October 28, 2025. She was 31. Born in Chicago in 1994, she grew up in Lake Forest, Ill., where from a young age she was a lover of horses and an accomplished equestrian. She graduated from Lake Forest High School in 2012 as a kind of celebrity who knew and was known by classmates at every grade level. Following in her grandparents’ passion for the arts, she went on to attend the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, Calif., where she cultivated her remarkable talents in photography. Photography would become not only her hobby but her profession: after college, she used her camera in events and marketing jobs. Gretchen was whip-smart, gorgeous, mischievous, and tough as nails. Her friends joked that her wry and hilarious rants would make for a hit podcast. After every family gathering—no matter how small or how modest—she would send out blasts of the fabulous photos she snapped, curated, and retouched. Those images will now be among the most cherished memories she leaves behind.

Gretchen is preceded in death by her mother, Heidi (2018), and her grandmother, Judy (2011). She will be sorely missed by her father, Jeffrey, her big brother, Jeffrey Jr., and grandfather, Dale, as well as by Nebo Todorović, Ingrid Niedermaier-Todorović, and Diana, Mark, Will, John, and Catherine Hayden. This is not to mention her many, many friends from near and far. A private memorial service will be held for family members, and we hope to host a celebration of Gretchen’s life at the Lantern of Lake Forest in the coming weeks. Details to follow on social media.

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