William “Bill” R. Neal, Sr., 91, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022, at The University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. The family will greet friends and family from 4 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 520 Wilson Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2022, at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, 720 Edgewood Road NW, Cedar Rapids. Inurnment will be at the Linwood Cemetery mausoleum in Cedar Rapids.
Bill was born on September 30, 1930, in Deep River, Iowa, the son of Chris and Inez (Van Dee) Neal. On July 10, 1948, Bill was united in marriage to Evelyn L. Krug in Cedar Rapids. Bill honorably served his country in the United States Navy on the USS Laning during the Korean Conflict. He was a truck driver for F.W. Means and City Cleaners before his retirement in 1992. Bill was a member of Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, American Legion Post, and the VFW.
Bill loved the outdoors, fishing, boating, camping, and gardening. Bill liked to play cards, attend his Navy reunions, and looked forward to winters in Arizona. He followed all kinds of sports especially the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Cubs. Above all, Bill loved the time he spent with his family and attending his grandchildren’s events. He will be missed dearly.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Neal; children, William “Bill” (Darlene) Neal of Iowa City, Iowa, Brenda (Wayne) Van Gorp of Cedar Rapids, and Connie (John) Caviness of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Amy (Ryan) Kay of Cedar Rapids, Beth (Zachary) Keeney of Waverly, Iowa, Jordan (Kiyla) Caviness of Hiawatha, Iowa, and Brent “BJ” (Bryana) Caviness of Dows, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Addison, Landon, Cash, Nolan, Hadley, John, and Scout. Also surviving is a brother, Norman Neal of Swisher, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Chris and Inez Neal; siblings, Margaret Fisher, Madeline Bell, Mabel Long, Claire Vokt, and John Neal; and son-in-law, Brian Garbe.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors and nurses at the University of Iowa Hospital and Mercy Hospital for their excellent care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church.