Neil Eugene Schroeter

     Neil Eugene Schroeter, the son of Anna (Overgaard) and Harold Schroeter, was born on January 21, 1950 at the Audubon County Hospital in Audubon, IA, and died on November 22, 2022 at his home near Brayton, IA, at the age of 72. Neil attended both Exira Elementary and Exira High Schools, where he graduated in 1968. In school, Neil excelled at singing and playing the trumpet. He continued to sing in the community both at church events and with the Oakfield Boys local band. He was known for singing the low, low “Oom Papa Mow Mow” notes in the song “Elvira.”

     After graduating from high school, Neil attended Iowa Western Community College in Clarinda, IA, to study music. From 1970-1972, Neil served in the Army, based in Germany. Upon his return from active duty, Neil worked in maintenance at an Omaha, NE, apartment complex.

     In 1975, Neil married Lavonne Nelson. Neil and Lavonne made their home on an acreage outside of Brayton. Shortly after, Neil began work at the Atlantic Post Office, where he fulfilled a variety of roles until his retirement in 2004. After his retirement, Neil went to work hauling a trailer across the country for Liberty Labs from 2007-2015. During this time, he visited many new places in the U.S., with Lavonne often joining him at the work sites on weekends.

     Neil and Lavonne had two children, Leslie and Trevor. Neil enjoyed traveling with his family and visiting many National Parks during their childhood. The family often camped during their vacations, and once even had pizza delivered to the “red tent.” Neil enjoyed fishing, hunting, and building Pinewood Derby cars with Trevor. He attended every game and school event, including driving to Blair, NE, to see Leslie’s college concerts.

     In 2012, one of Neil’s dreams came true when he became a grandpa (Papa) to Luci. He loved having fun with Luci and spent hours on FaceTime watching her play when they could not be together in-person during the pandemic.

Throughout his life, Neil was a builder and a fixer. He never met a mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or carpentry job he wouldn’t tackle. He restored two 1957 Chevys. He and Lavonne remodeled their own home several times, including building their own addition of a bedroom, bathroom, and family room onto their farmhouse. They remodeled their daughter’s first home and renovated and maintained two rental houses until he became ill in 2021.

     Neil is survived by his wife, Lavonne; his daughter, Leslie (Matt) Irwin, and granddaughter Luci of Elkhorn, NE; son Trevor (Rebecca) Schroeter of Forest Grove, OR; sister Carol Gronseth of Atlantic, IA; brother Douglas (Sherri) Schroeter of McKinney, TX; sister in law Carol (Monti) Miller of Granger, IA; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Verla Heath, brother-in-law Ben Heath, and nephew Jeremy Heath; his brother-in-law Stephen Gronseth; and his father and mother-in-law, John W. and Lucille Nelson.

     “He was a man, take him for all in all. I shall never look upon his like again.” Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

Visitation will be open to the public throughout the day on Friday, Dec. 2, with family present between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, IA. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, IA, with a luncheon to follow at the Brayton Town Hall. Interment will be in the Oakfield Cemetery east of Brayton following the funeral service.

     Honorary casket bearers: Noele Tyson, Dawn Hepler, Sarah Zach, Marissa Miller, and Molli Davis. Casket bearers: Monti Miller, Matt Irwin, Eric Nelson, Brady Miller, Dennis Garnett, Dennis Sonntag, Kurt Hanson, and Mike Howard. Vocalist: Erika Sieff

     Memorials will be given to the Oakfield Cemetery Association.