Kenneth William McNeil, 97, of Middletown, passed away peacefully on July 16 at the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.
Ken was born Dec. 31, 1926, in Burlington, to Clarence and Edith McNeil. He was raised, with his twin brother, on a farm in the Iowa Ordinance Plant. Ken graduated from Burlington High School in 1944 and joined the Army in 1945 and served until the war ended. He then started a 50-year career at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant until his retirement in 1996.
Ken married his wife, Elsie Mae Engstrom, Jan. 22, 1966 and together they made their home in Middletown until her death Nov. 10, 1999. They spent several winters in Arizona. Ken was active in the Middletown Presbyterian Church from the time he was a child until it closed in 2016.
Ken loved to bird hunt and fish with his brother Keith. He rode his bicycle up into his 90s to the post office to get his mail and to visit his brother who lived nearby. He loved bluegrass music and went to “Prime Time” for church suppers and music. He and his brother traveled the countryside to listen to bluegrass music. He also loved Old Threshers and square dancing and mushroom hunting.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Elsie Mae and sister-in-law Maxine.
He is survived by his twin brother, Keith McNeil of Middletown; four nephews Randy (Susan) McNeil, Kenny Hohmbraker, Tom (Cindy) Engstrom and Doug (Denise) Engstrom; one niece Pam Maupin; Great Nephew Caleb McNeil Engstrom as well as several other great nieces and nephews as well as several great-great nieces and nephews and special friends Karen & Kirk Soukup and sons.
The family very much appreciated all his caregivers.
The service for Kenneth will be 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20 at Simple Gathering (Old Presbyterian Church in Middletown) with Pastor Simeon Counterman officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until the time of service.
A memorial has been established for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House.