NEAL, Joseph R. 1928-2008

NEAL, EIKENBERRY, SCHULZ

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 10/5/2008 at 00:00:28

MARBLE ROCK, IOWA — Funeral services for Joseph R. Neal, age 80, of 417 South Main Street, Marble Rock, will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2008, at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Greene. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Greene. Military honors will be conducted by Tack Barnett Post 268 American Legion of Greene.

Joseph Raymond Neal was born on June 9, 1928, in Greene, the son of Frank Ray and Ruth (Eikenberry) Neal, and died on Monday, September 29, 2008, at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa in Mason City. He received his education in the Greene Public Schools graduating in 1946.

On Nov. 26, 1946, he was united in marriage to Donna Mae Shultz at Luther Church of the Incarnate in Columbia, South Carolina. He was inducted into the United States Army on Oct. 5, 1946. He served with Headquarters Company in Seoul, Korea. Following his honorable discharge on March 26, 1948, he returned to Greene where he was engaged in carpentry work and farming until his retirement in 1990. Even after retirement, he was still interested in what was going on in agriculture.

For 35 years Joe was a care giver to Donna as she struggled through the stages of Multiple Sclerosis. He was a dedicated father and grandfather, who valued those special times with his family. When anyone came to visit, one would be sure to have either some home-made ice cream, popcorn, or cookies before they left. As a pastime he enjoyed playing cards, working puzzles or playing a friendly game of croquet. Joe was known as the “King of Croquet”.

Living family members include his children: Bonita (Richard Cano) Neal of Lancaster, California, Tom (Susan) Neal of Austin, Texas, and Margaret (George) Nash of Rockford, Iowa; six grandchildren: Dan (Rhonda) Neal, Stacy (Dan) Rooney, Matt (Sarah) Neal, Lucas (Amy) Neal, Aaron and Ryan Nash; six great-grandchildren: Megan, Benjamin, and Brooke Neal, Brendan Rooney; Mackenzie Rooney, and Aubrey Neal; two sisters, Harriet Smith of Sun City West, Arizona, and Patricia (George) Brown of Decorah, Iowa; a brother-in-law, James Tyson of Terra Haute, Indiana, and a sister-in-law, Lois Adams, of Marble Rock.

He was preceded in death by his wife Donna on April 19, 1998; by his parents; by a brother Robert James Neal; and by a sister, Ann Tyson.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the Joseph R. Neal Memorial Fund in care of the family 2010 Glass Avenue, Rockford, IA 50468. Reid’s Funeral Chapel, 519 N. First St., Greene, Iowa, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

[Published: Wednesday, October 1, 2008, Charles City Press online -- www.charlescitypress.com]