Neil Lloyd Neff (1911)

NEFF, NOLTE

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 8/6/2007 at 21:59:43

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
August 1911

Neil Lloyd Neff, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. I. D. Neff entered this life October 23, 1886; passed to the life Eternal Aug. 5, 1911 aged 24 years, 9 months and 12 days.

In Feb. 1899 at the age of 12 years, Neil confessed his faith in Jesus and united with the Christian Church at North River under the ministry of Rev. W. A. Brandenberg, and has ever remained a loyal, devoted christian. During the years he resided in Colorado, he placed his church letter in the church with his wife and with her worked for the advancement of righteouness.

Neil's education consisted of work in the rural school together with several terms spent in the Earlahm Academy, having completed the commercial course with a class of nine in 1906. During his school work at Earlham he was active in athletic sports and in all that pertained to school life.

Always of a happy, genial disposition Neil made many friends, who delighted in his friendship. They have contributed to his happiness during the recent weeks of illness by their presence and good cheer. Carrie from Illinois, Jake from Canada and Byron from Indiana came to be with him as much as possible, to assist in caring for him and to brighten in every way possible his hours of suffering.

November 10th, 1909, at the Nolte home near Dexter, Sarah E. Nolte and Neil were united in marriage with every prospect of long life of happiness together. They moved to their farm home near Akron, Colo., in December. After a residence of 11 months, Neil’s health began to fail and in June they returned to the home of his childhood with the hope that the change in climate would prove beneficial. The change was made too late for any permanent good to be derived and as above stated Neil passed away Friday night at 12:15 leaving a wife, baby daughter--Loraine--six months of age, father, mother, three sisters, six brothers and many others dear to him to mourn his departure.

Neil is not far from us, he has passed through the valley of the shadow, into the enjoyment of “Sweet peace, the gift of God’s love”. And to this grief-stricken family, Heaven is today a richer place because Neil is there.

Funeral services were conducted at the Penn Center Church by Rev. Sherman Kirk, of Des Moines assisted by Rev. Boyers, of Dexter, Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. An immense throng gathered to pay the last sad tribute of respect of the living to the dead and the remains were laid to rest in the Penn Center cemetery.

Those present from a distance were Mr. Wm. Nolte, Akron, Colo., Mrs. Carrie Neil Lehman and daughter Ruth, Millington, Ill., Miss Blanche Scarborough and Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Neff of Des Moines, Iowa.