Gerald “Jerry” L. Neely, age 78 of Clintonville, passed away Monday evening, April 28, 2014 at his residence.
Jerry was born on July 10, 1935 in New London as the son of the late Lawrence and Evelyn (Ritchie) Neely. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic Grade School in Bear Creek and graduated from Bear Creek High School in 1954. Jerry lived on Silver Creek Road in the Town of Bear Creek most of his life where he farmed the family farm for a number of years. He was united in marriage to Dona Klotzbuecher on November 15, 1984. The couple resided in the Town of Bear Creek and moved to their current residence in Clintonville in September of 2010. Jerry worked for FWD Seagrave Corp. in Clintonville for 5 years before taking a job with Miller Electric in Appleton which spanned 32 years leading up to his retirement in 1994. He was an enormous fan of the Green Bay Packers, and was a proud stock holder and season ticket holder since 1959. In his younger years Jerry was a member of the Clintonville A’s baseball team as well as a member of the famed “Untouchables” baseball team in Clintonville. He was also active as a past member of the Bear Creek Lions Club and the Clintonville Curling Club.
Survivors include: his wife, Dona; his children from a previous marriage: Jeri (Jim Spelman) Yoder, Rockford, IL; Jacki (Steve) Johnson, Waupaca; Andrea (Chris) Melk, Waupaca; Brian (Heather) Neely, New London; a step-daughter, Tara (Troy) Pearson, Marshfield; grandchildren: Zachary Yoder, Chloe Johnson, Breanna (Sid) Benbo, Adalyn and Robbie Melk, and MaKayla and Mathena Neely; a step-grandson, Cole Pearson; a sister, Eileen (Jim) Gossens, Clintonville; a son-in-law, Bill Doty, Waupaca; numerous in-laws including, John “Mike” Friis, Appleton. Also, many other relatives and friends. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter November “Nevy Jo” Doty, a granddaughter Teagan Yoder, and a sister Karen Friis.
A memorial service will be held for Jerry at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 2, 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bear Creek with Rev. Jack Mullarkey officiating. Inurnment will be at the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in the Town of Bear Creek. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established by Jerry’s family. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory of Clintonville is assisting his family with the arrangements. An online guestbook for Jerry can be found at www.eberhardtstevenson.com