02/13/2018
Donald M. Neal, age 83, passed away February 13, 2018 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.
From his birth on August 10, 1934 to his death he lived by faith and the love for his family. He was born in Knoxville, Iowa to Archie and Lucille Neal and was the second youngest of five children.
After attending Knoxville High School he joined the United States Army in 1953 and proudly served his country being awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal.
It was upon his return to Knoxville after his service ended that he met his love, Janice Schmidt. They married in 1959 and together they raised three children, Jennifer, Susan and Tim in Des Moines, Iowa.
Donald worked for John Deere and Company for 36 years, mostly working on the factory line making cotton pickers and becoming an inspector, but shortly before his retirement in 1996 he was able to travel with Deere Marketing Team and made trips to Canada for two years getting into the fields and speaking to farmers and dealers about the equipment he had helped produce all those years.
His special interests included the Za Ga Zig Shriner's Organization, Order of the Eastern Star and Scottish Rite Consistory.
He was a member of St. John's Methodist Church in Des Moines, since 1959 when it first opened its doors. Donald's most special moments in life occurred when he was with family and grandchildren.
Many special memories were made while camping, fishing and boating after retirement at Clear Lake, Iowa where family frequently gathered during the summers.
In recent years he enjoyed attending and cheering on the lowaState Cyclones at football and basketball games.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janice Neal.
He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer (Ron) Key and their children, Austin and MacKenzie, daughter, Susan (Jim) Hollinger and their children, Sydney and Tatum (Josh) Johannes and their son Kale, and son, Tim (Carrie) and their daughter, Jennifer.
He is also survived by a sister, Virginia Morris and brother, Robert Neal, and several nieces and nephews. Donald taught his family that being a family means you are part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, February 24, 2018 at 3 p.m. at McLaren's Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines, Iowa.
The Neal family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff at Davita Dialysis Center in West Des Moines and Ankeny, Joya for the wonderful loving care that they provided our father and Papa.