Neal was born on Friday, January 12, 1923 in Gordon, Nebraska. He died on Thursday evening April 11, 2019 at the Gordon Memorial Hospital. He was exactly 96 years, 2 months and 20 days old. His parents were Ren and Esther Hull Green. He began his education at the Minor Ranch School located South of Gordon. At the age of 8 he moved with his family to Gordon and attended country school 3 miles east of Gordon through the 8thgrade. In the fall of 1936, he entered Gordon High School and graduated with the GHS class of 1940.
Just a few months before the start of World War II, he enrolled at Chadron State College and in the spring of 41 joined the college track team. With so many of his classmates joining the military during the early stages of the war, he left Chadron State after his sophomore year and hitched to Fort Meade, South Dakota and joined the Army Air Corp. After intense training he became a B-17 Bomber pilot and served in the European theatre during the war.
Soon after being discharged, he married Gladys Gustafson in Red Oak, Iowa on September 15, 1946. Neal and Gladys moved to Gordon to join Neal’s father in the family farming business 3 miles east of Gordon. They welcomed three children while living east of Gordon, Richard Ren, Ronald Lee and Kay Joyce.
In 1985, Neal and Gladys moved 2 miles closer to town and remained there until Gladys’s untimely death in 2009 and Neal entering the Nursing home in late February of 2018.
Neal and Gladys had a passion for the outdoors and caring for the land. They enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. Neal was a member of IOOF Lodge, a member of the Methodist Church and a member of the American Legion. Neal was an avid sports fan and always enjoyed cheering for the Huskers.
Neal is preceded in death by his parents Ren and Esther, wife Gladys, brother Troy and daughter-n-law Camille.
He is survived by his sons Richard of Gordon, Ron and Libby Green of North Platte and daughter Kay and Mark Mayer of Wapiti, Wyoming. Grandchildren: Kim South, Shelly and Jason Harding, Alisha and Bill Michie, Seth and Spencer Green, Brooke Mayer, Scott and Ashley Mayer. Great-grandchildren: Logan, Luke, Trent, Tyson, Tessia, Bexley, Dax.
Memorial services were held Friday April 26, 2019, 10:00 am at the United Methodist Church in Gordon. Inurnment with Military Honors was held in the Gordon Cemetery. A memorial has been established for the United Methodist Church and donations may be sent to Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
United Methodist Church-Gordon
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