McNeil, Louise M.

MCNEIL, HANSSEN, THIELEN, KUNDE, DESPREAUX

Posted By: Ruth Maring - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/6/2007 at 10:24:50

McNeil, Louise M.

Louise M. McNeil, 99, of Preston, Iowa, died Friday, September 21, 2007, at home with her family by her side.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, September 28, 2007 with a one hour visitation prior to services at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa with Reverend Gregory Geier officiating. Burial will be in Preston Cemetery, Preston, Iowa. Friends may call from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2007 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston.

Memorials may be given to the Jackson County Hospice Association or St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church Elevator Fund in honor of Louise.

Louise was born June 2, 1908, the daughter of Hugo and Louise (Hanssen) Thielen in Clinton County near Charlotte, Iowa. She attended the Clinton County rural schools. Louise was the Valedictorian “Class of 1926”, the first graduating class at Goose Lake Consolidation School. In 1925 she attended Cedar Falls Extension Summer School, receiving a Teachers Certificate. In 1926 she attended Scoville Business College in Clinton, Iowa. September of 1926, Louise began teaching at “Cranny” a one-room school located south of Charlotte, Iowa.On June 15, 1927, Louise married Albert McNeil in Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charlotte, Iowa. With marriage Louise set aside her teaching career and began life as a dedicated wife and mother. She and Albert farmed in the Preston area until his death in 1975. She later moved to Preston and stayed for the remainder of her life. Louise was a member of the St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Sarah Circle. Along with the women of the church, Louise sewed quilts for over thirty-three years. She also made quilts for all seventy-one grandchildren, great grand children and great-great grandchildren. Louise was a charter member of the Preston Garden Club; Van Buren Twp. Homemakers; Preston Seniors (twenty years as Treasurer); Jackson County Volunteers and the American Legion Auxiliary. Louise published three Poem Books during her lifetime, “Sense and Nonsense”, “Wit and Wisdom”, and “80 Years of Reminisce 1921 ~ 2002.”Louise very much loved and enjoyed the time she spent with her family.

She will be dearly missed by her son, Archie (Heidi) McNeil of Preston, Iowa; two daughters, JoAnn (the late Donald) Kunde of Preston and Sandra (Carl) Despreaux of Manahawkin, New Jersey; fifteen grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren; twenty-one great- great grandchildren; and one sister in-law, Mrs. Lovelda Thielen of Sabula, Iowa.

Louise is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Albert; an infant daughter, Alberta; three brothers and five sisters.

Online condolences may be given to the family at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com

Louise M. McNeil
Preston, Iowa
June 2, 1908 - September 21, 2007
Published in the Clinton Herald from 9/25/2007 - 10/2/2007