Neil Francis Howe 1928-2008

MUNSON, HOWE, KOSTMAN, SWENSON, MAXWELL, SCHAMS, SHANNON

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 3/2/2008 at 20:17:31

Neil Francis Howe

Neil Francis Howe, 79, of Bangor, WI passed away peacefully Sunday, January 20, 2008 surrounded by his loving and caring family at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center, La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Wednesday, January 23 at Jandt Funeral Home in Bangor, with Pastor Stephanie M. Steiner officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery with military honors by the Anderson-Good American Legion Post 40 of Bangor and the U.S. Military Funeral Honors Program.

Neil was born November 21, 1928 in La Crosse to Ira and Inez ( Munson) Howe. December 21, 1950 Neil was united in marriage to Delores Kostman and together they had three children, Richard, Dan and Rose. He was drafted into the Army in 1950 and fought in the Korean War from 1951 until 1952, when he was honorably discharged.

Neil was employed as an ironworker for several years and was proud of his accomplishments throughout his career. He helped build many places, including the Interstate 90 bridge between Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Gundersen Lutheran Clinic in La Crosse, the nuclear power plant in Genoa, and several area apartment buildings, just to name a few.

Neil enjoyed reading the La Crosse Tribune. He always read the comics or "funnies" as he called them and saved his favorites to share with his family and friends. Among his favorites were "Ziggy" and "Baby Blues". He also enjoyed waiting for spring with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Together they would sit outside and wait to see the first dandelion and first robins of the year.

Neil was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather, but most importantly, our friend. He will be remembered forever in the hearts of everybody that he touched as a very strong, courageous man. Even though his opinion was always right and there was no changing it, he was always there to listen whenever anybody needed somebody. We could laugh with him, cry with him, or just sit and chat with him for hours on end. He has touched so many lives and will be sadly missed.

He is survived by and will be deeply missed by his wonderful wife, Delores; his children, Richard (Aileen), Dan (Connie), and Rose (Ron) Swenson; his grandchildren, Paula, April, Becky, Adam, Sue, Candy, Earl, Jessi, Kristin, Wendy, Brian, and Rachel; his great-grandchildren, Dustin, Loralee, James, Megan, Anas, Saleh, Hannah, Humza, Melissa, Mike, Jarin, Kaden, Lia, Ivan, Antonio, Jose, Valeria; one sister, Nancy Maxwell; one brother-in-law, Gene Schams; his dog and special companion, Buddy; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Doris Shannon and Helen Schams.

The Waukon Standard, January 30, 2008
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