Neal, Pvt. Cale B. 1897-1918

NEAL

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 11/21/2011 at 19:31:50

Akron Register-Tribune
October 24, 1918

AKRON SOLDIERS MAKE SUPREME SACRIFICE

PRIVATE CALE B. NEAL
[photo accompanying the obituary]

Brief mention was made in these columns last week of the death of Private
Cale B. Neal, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Neal, which occurred at Ames, Iowa,
on Wednesday, October 16, 1918, following an illness of about one week from
the effects of Spanish influenza.

Cale Burdette Neal, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Emery Neal, was born in
Portland township, Plymouth County, Iowa, May 30, 1897, and attained the age
of 21 years, 4 months and 16 days. He remained on the farm with his parents
until he enlisted in the service of his country. He was called to the State
college at Ames, Ia., for special duty with a contingent of Plymouth County
young men on August 14, 1918, and was assigned to Co. A., Third Training
Detachment, and was making excellent progress in auto mechanics when seized
with his final illness. His parents were summoned to Ames on October 12th,
and realizing his critical condition, his father returned here as hastily as
possible, but before they arrived Cale had passed to his reward.

Cale was a fine young man of exemplary habits, and the past few years has
been his father’s steady and faithful assistant on the farm. He was
deservedly popular among a wide circle of acquaintances, who valued his
sterling qualities and manly worth. He heard his country’s call and made
the supreme sacrifice as truly as if he had gone down on the field of
battle. His untimely demise is deeply regretted and widely mourned. The
parents and other relatives have the sincere sympathy of many friends in
their bereavement.

The remains of Private Cale Neal arrived here from Ames Saturday afternoon,
accompanied by his comrade, Private Harvey Blickem, of Westfield. On account
of the quarantine restrictions, no service was held, but an impressive
burial service was conducted by Rev. M. E. Spahr, of the Akron M.E. church,
at Riverside Cemetery Sunday afternoon. He paid a fine tribute to the
sacrifice and manhood of the young soldier, calling to mind the occasion of
our Lord, when He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.” Mrs. Lyle Strong and Miss Clara M.
Stoutenburg contributed a couple of duets to the service. The pallbearers
were local soldier boys.

Relatives who came from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Bert Tyson, of
Stuart, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Louis Nel, of Chancellor, S.D.; Harry Neal, of
Nebraska; Miss Della Kimball, from St. Paul; Oswell Squires, of Cherokee,
Ia.