- Born on: December 30, 1925
- Departed on: September 7, 2024
- Resided in: Cedar Falls, IA
Janice Neal
Janice Neal went peacefully to her forever address mid-morning on Saturday, September 7, 2024, with members of her family and close friends by her side. A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, beginning at 1:30 pm at Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock, Iowa.
She was born Janice Nadia Mathews on December 30, 1925, in Milwaukee, WI, to Marie (Mattson) Mathews and Leonard R Mathews. Throughout her school years she was active in music, sports and her church. She graduated high school 18 months after the U.S. entered WWII. At Milwaukee Downer College she received a Bachelor of Science in the spring of 1949. During a 9 month internship she discovered Occupational Therapy and took her first position in that field at the Mental Health Institute in Independence, IA. It was there she met Burle E Neal, of Shell Rock, IA, who was hired as one of her aides. The couple were married in her home church on December 31, 1951. Three years later they bought a small house in Hazleton, IA where their family grew to 6: Bradley, Randall, Brenda and Karen. The family moved to Shell Rock in 1969. Janice quickly became and remained an active member of the Faith Lutheran Church until August, 2023. She was also active in the community, including Swing Show, Shell Rock’s first Summer Program for children, and the “Penny Pool”. She played Bridge from the age of 8. Jan was also an accomplished seamstress and her work can be found in her church, the high school, Wartburg College, and many closets throughout the area. Jan was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, her brother Kenneth W Matthews, her mother and father, and more friends than she could have counted.
She is survived by her sons Bradley Neal & Jill (Orlando, FL), Randall Neal & Teri (Shell Rock), her daughters Brenda Fuller & Jim (Urich, MO), Karen Renning & Greg (Cedar Rapids, IA), Grandchildren Brandon Neal, Schuyler Neal, Tiffany Tommasini & Danley, Amber Johnson & Jacob, Jami Cooper & Trent, Megan Borett & Ben, Adam Neal & Tonya, Levi Neal & Brooklynn, Kati Gonzalez & Estiven, Zack Demeter & Theresa, Samuel Renning & Jennifer, Kristin Jones & Dustin, and 27 Great-Grandchildren Abbigale, Anna Beth, Parker, Nova, Jason, William, Trey, Ashton, Evelyn, Paige, Cohen, Nolan, Logan, Elize, Heath, Caroline, Xander, Helena, Nolan, Milo, Willow, Liam, Nolan, Emmett, Archer, Rennon, and Beckett.
Memorial donations may be given to Care Initiatives Hospice-Waterloo/Cedar Falls.
She was born Janice Nadia Mathews on December 30, 1925, in Milwaukee, WI, to Marie (Mattson) Mathews and Leonard R Mathews. Throughout her school years she was active in music, sports and her church. She graduated high school 18 months after the U.S. entered WWII. At Milwaukee Downer College she received a Bachelor of Science in the spring of 1949. During a 9 month internship she discovered Occupational Therapy and took her first position in that field at the Mental Health Institute in Independence, IA. It was there she met Burle E Neal, of Shell Rock, IA, who was hired as one of her aides. The couple were married in her home church on December 31, 1951. Three years later they bought a small house in Hazleton, IA where their family grew to 6: Bradley, Randall, Brenda and Karen. The family moved to Shell Rock in 1969. Janice quickly became and remained an active member of the Faith Lutheran Church until August, 2023. She was also active in the community, including Swing Show, Shell Rock’s first Summer Program for children, and the “Penny Pool”. She played Bridge from the age of 8. Jan was also an accomplished seamstress and her work can be found in her church, the high school, Wartburg College, and many closets throughout the area. Jan was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, her brother Kenneth W Matthews, her mother and father, and more friends than she could have counted.
She is survived by her sons Bradley Neal & Jill (Orlando, FL), Randall Neal & Teri (Shell Rock), her daughters Brenda Fuller & Jim (Urich, MO), Karen Renning & Greg (Cedar Rapids, IA), Grandchildren Brandon Neal, Schuyler Neal, Tiffany Tommasini & Danley, Amber Johnson & Jacob, Jami Cooper & Trent, Megan Borett & Ben, Adam Neal & Tonya, Levi Neal & Brooklynn, Kati Gonzalez & Estiven, Zack Demeter & Theresa, Samuel Renning & Jennifer, Kristin Jones & Dustin, and 27 Great-Grandchildren Abbigale, Anna Beth, Parker, Nova, Jason, William, Trey, Ashton, Evelyn, Paige, Cohen, Nolan, Logan, Elize, Heath, Caroline, Xander, Helena, Nolan, Milo, Willow, Liam, Nolan, Emmett, Archer, Rennon, and Beckett.
Memorial donations may be given to Care Initiatives Hospice-Waterloo/Cedar Falls.
