Dr. Leonard Jack Neel

NEEL, NELSON, BARKER, SCHOEL, SANDROCK, KISSNER

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 10:59:38

Dr.Leonard Jack Neel, 82, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 3, 2007, after a short illness. Funeral Services will be 10:00 A.M Thursday June 7, 2007 at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, 605 Kirkwood Ave, Iowa City, IA. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 9:30-10:00 A.M. at the funeral home with a Masonic Service starting at 9:00 A.M.
He was born in Maxwell, Iowa on February 24, 1925 to Mildred Eva Nelson Neel & Leonard Frank Neel. The family soon moved to Grand Junction, Iowa, where Jack was raised, graduating from Grand Junction High School in 1942. He attended Kemper Military School, then entered the US Army to serve three years during WWII.

Upon returning from the war, he majored in civil engineering at the University of Iowa, where he belonged to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. In 1948, he married Darlene Barker, of Iowa City. For several years, they made their home in Grand Junction, where Jack & his brother continued ownership of the family's Neel Lumber Company.

Jack returned to the U of I to attend dental school, where he was an award-winning student, graduating in 1963. He practiced two years in Grand Junction, and 24 years in Burlington, IA. He and Darlene moved to Iowa City six years ago.

Jack loved his family, and was an avid hunter & fisherman. He enjoyed music and was an accomplished cornet player, competing nationally while in high school. Jack was a life-long United Methodist, a 50-year Masonic Lodge member and a Shriner.

He is survived by four children: Cindy Schoel (Randy) of Harker Heights, TX, Sandy Sandrock (Todd) of Grand Blanc, MI, Debbie Kissner of Iowa City, IA, Todd Neel (Carol) of Coralville, Ia, nine grandchildren: J.C. Schoel (Jenny). Stephanie Schoel, Jennifer, David, Eric, and Jacob Sandrock, Jessica Kissner, Alex and Hannah Neel, & great grandchildren Addison & Grant Schoel, and several nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene (October 2006), his parents, and brother, Bob.