Neely, John Clifford 1920-2008

NEELY, SHAFFER, KRUEGER, PAGE, BROWN, LINCOLN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/22/2018 at 15:47:36

January 23, 1920 ---- February 17, 2008

John Clifford Neely was born on January 23, 1920, in Oil City, Pennsylvannia to Clifford and Mabel Shaffer Neely. He attended schools in Franklin, PA. and received a BS degree in accounting from the University of Pittsburgh. Following his education he was an accountant in private business. He was inducted into the United States Army on May 23, 1942 and served with the 102nd Division during World War II in the Rhineland and Central Europe. He also served with the Army Air Corps in the Panama Canal Zone. He was discharged as a Captain and was a recepient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

On January 22, 1948, he was married to Mary 'Toni' Krueger in the chapel at Fort Clayton in the Panama Canal Zone. The couple lived in Erie, PA and he worked in various accounting positions with General Telephone Company. He was promoted to GTE Service Corporation in New York City in 1958. He worked in a number of positions there until his election as Vice President of Revenue Requirements of General Telephone of the Midwest in 1971. He retired from General Telephone Company in May of 1982.

The family lived in Grinnell, Iowa, where he was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Grinnell Kiwanis Club, the Grinnell Country Club, and the Independent Telephone Pioneers Association. He served on the Board of Directors of Grinnell Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Manor and St. Mary's Parish Foundation. He also enjoyed attending reunions of the 102nd Division of the U.S. Army. The couple had wintered in Boca Raton, Florida and had resided at the Dearfield Community in Urbandale for the past few years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary (Toni) Neely of Urbandale; his children and their spouses, Mary Ann Neely of Des Moines, Christine (Ronald) Page of Troy, Michigan, John (Bernadette) Neely of Brandon, Florida; Kathleen (Paul) Brown of Urbandale and Ellen (Christopher) Lincoln of Des Moines; six grandchildren; and two brothers, William Neely of Tulsa, OK and Richard Neely of Erie, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Stewart Library, or to Grinnell Regional Medical Center.

http://www.smithfh.com/obituaries/John-Clifford-Neely?obId=2928704#/obituaryInfo