Neil C. Etheridge, age 94 of New London, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, surrounded by family at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center, Appleton.
Neil Conrad Etheridge was born June 17, 1922 in Clintonville to the late Milford and Alice (Jenks) Etheridge. He attended school in Clintonville and graduated from Clintonville High School. Following graduation, Neil enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWII as combat infantry in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged from the military in December of 1945 and started work at the F.W.D. in Clintonville. He was united in marriage to Eva Reed on April 12, 1946, and the young family lived in many different locations around the U.S. for his work with the F.W.D. They finally settled back in Clintonville when Neil was promoted to a management position. Eva then preceded her husband in death in June of 1975. Neil was later re-married to Myrna Henes in Waupaca on June 25, 1979. He retired from the F.W.D. in 1986 after over 45 years of employment. The couple then moved to Mountain, WI where they spent most of their retirement years, only recently moving to New London in November of 2015. Neil was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. Post # 664, and was an active leader in the local Boy Scout Troop. He loved fishing from his pontoon boat and woodworking. Neil loved music, especially Big Band, Country, and Polka; he also played the trumpet. He loved spending time in his garden and was known to be very particular about his raspberry patch. Neil will be remembered as a family man who could fix anything, including any and all treasures that he found at the local dump; and Heaven help anyone who found themselves at Neil’s dinner table with a hat upon their head.
Survivors include his wife, Myrna; daughters: Jenny Aylward, Peoria, AZ; Laurie (Jerry) Reinert, Clintonville; and Kathy (Dennis) Danke, New London; a son, Jeff (Gloria) Etheridge, Appleton; grandchildren: Julie (Matt) Olson, Jeanne (Kevin) Montgomery, Jacque (Bob) Gibson, Jolene (Chris) Kearns, Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher J. Etheridge, David Etheridge, Joseph Reinert, Brian (Laura Pues) Reinert, and Kerri (Shawn) Tennie; great-grandchildren: Garrett and Tanner Olson; Taylor and Talan Montgomery; Hailee, Toree, and Emee Gibson; Blade Kearns; and Lila Tennie; many nieces and nephews. Neil was preceded in death by his parents; a wife, Eva; a sister, Clavia Tews; and brothers, Eldred and Elwyn.
Memorial services will take place at a date and time yet to be determined. Inurment will take place at Graceland Cemetery, Clintonville in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials be directed to the Lion’s Eye Bank of Wisconsin, 2401 American Ln. Madison, WI 53714, lebw.org. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory, Clintonville is assisting his family. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com.
Neil’s family would also like to thank Dr. Turk as well as the nurses and staff at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Appleton for their compassionate care during his stay.