McNEILUS, James A. 1910-2002

MCNEILUS, DRALLE

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/25/2009 at 12:17:14

#1:

JAMES A. MCNEILUS

MARBLE ROCK, IOWA - James A. McNeilus, 91, of Marble Rock, died Thursday (July 11, 2002) at Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

His funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Greene, with the Rev. Mike Carey of United Methodist Church of Riceville officiating. Burial will be in Westside Cemetery in Marble Rock.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday at Reid's Funeral Chapel and one hour before services on Monday at the chapel.

Memorials may be directed to the family.

Reid's Funeral Chapel, (641) 823-4457.

[ Globe Gazette, July 12, 2002 ]
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#2:

MARBLE ROCK, IOWA - James A. McNeilus, 91, of 121 South Main Street, Marble Rock, died Thursday, July 11, 2002 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today, July 15, 2002, at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Greene with Pastor Mike Carey of the United Methodist Church of Riceville officiating. Burial will be in the Westside Cemetery in Marble Rock. Following committal services there will be a lunch served at the Marble Rock United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be was from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday and will be one hour prior to services today at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Greene.

James Andrew McNeilus was born August 19, 1910, in rural Butler County, north of Bristow, a son of William A. and Ethel McNeilus. He received his education from the Bristow High School graduating in 1928 and attended Gates Business College. James worked at Chamberlain Machine Works in Waterloo for two years. During the Depression he rode the rails, baled hay on the prairies of Oklahoma, and drove caterpillar tractors on a Gravel Gang in the Dakotas.

On March 4, 1936, he was united in marriage to Violet S. Dralle at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church at Vilmar. They were blessed with four daughters, four sons, 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. They made a living in farming and masonry construction.

James and Violet moved to the town of Marble Rock in 1968. His great love and admiration for this small town, nestled above the Shell Rock River, gave him inspiration to help keep it alive and well. He was instrumental in obtaining the Old Bank Building for historical contributions and has been one of its greatest contributors. He built seven new homes and remodeled several others. Jim did masonry work on the Methodist and Lutheran Churches as well as new fronts on several town buildings. He built the steps on both sides of the river bridge and oversaw the stone wall construction at the Power House site. He also built the fireplace at the local Scout Camp Field House of native limestone and participated with others in restoring tombstones in the two Marble Rock cemeteries.

He has published three books and was the Floyd County Civil Defense Director from 1965 to 1975. He enjoyed discussing politics and religion and was well known for his love of the game of checkers. James was featured on Paul Harvey in February of this year as the story of the Checkers Champ traveled far and wide.

James is survived by four daughters: Marlene Noack of Cedar Falls, Marilyn and David Myers of Grand Rapids, Mich., Marjorie Tjebkes of Charles City, Marsha and John Counsell of Riceville; four sons, Jim and Deb McNeilus of Charles City, Larry and Debbie McNeilus of Sullivan, Ill., Dale and Cindy McNeilus of Sleepy Hollow, Ill., Harlan McNeilus of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three sisters and one sister-in-law, Laura and Gene Olson of Arizona, Ardith and Orville Fox of Waverly, Aleece and Bill Beetle of Bristow, Marian McNeilus (widow of Floyd) of Waverly; 18 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

James was preceded in death by his wife Violet Dralle McNeilus; his parents, William A. and Ethel McNeilus; two brothers, Archie and Floyd McNeilus; one sister, Gladys McNeilus; one son-in-law, Virgil Noack; one grandchild, Christina McNeilus.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the James A. McNeilus Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Reid's Funeral Chapel in Greene is in charge of arrangements.