Vera Lavone Neal

Vera LaVone Luckinbill Neal, daughter of Clinton and Mabel Fell Luckinbill, was born March 20, 1918, in her parents home in Seeley Township in Guthrie County, Iowa.
Veras family moved to Guthrie Center, Iowa when she was three months old. Vera had four older brothers: Harold, Walter, Ray, and Kenneth. They adored her.
Veras father worked in a grocery store until they could move on the farm they had bought one mile southeast of Guthrie Center.
Vera was baptized in the Christian Church when she was nine years old along with her parents. She went to elementary and high school in Guthrie Center. She played in the band, was in girls glee club and mixed chorus. Vera and her friend, Audra Borkman sang many duets in the Christian Church. After graduation in 1936, she worked in Meyers Ten Cent Store and later in Soil Conservation until she was married.
On April 16, 1939, Vera was united in marriage to Marvin Neal from Boone in her parents home with 35 guests attending. Her brother Kenneth and his fiancee Ermice Bloomquist stood up with them. Reverend Biddle married them.
Marvins parents left their farm at Exira, Iowa in 1938 and moved to Boone, Iowa where they ran an outdoor skating rink. When Marvin and Vera got married they lived at Slater, Iowa and had rinks at Ames and other small towns. They lived in a trailer house down by the swimming pool and skating rink. Marvin managed the skating rink in Ames. When winter came they moved to Manson, Iowa and ran an enclosed rink. In the Spring of 1940, they moved to Emmetsburg and had another outdoor rink. In the fall they moved in with Veras parents. Marvin was having so many migraine headaches he couldnt manage the rinks anymore.
In 1942, Vera and Marvin moved to Marvins family farm with the address of Exira. They lived 16 miles from Audubon, 15 from Guthrie and 9 miles from Exira. Vera was used to living one mile from town and she didnt think she could live there, but she did for 56 years.
On December 3, 1942, their son Douglas Craig Neal was born, such a joy! They lived in the vicinity of Bowman Chapel Church and they transferred their membership there on October 27, 1963, where Craig had been baptized years before.
Vera enjoyed being involved with the church. Vera and Marvin celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary there in 1989. After Marvin had heart problems, Vera worked part-time at Elsie Cowdens Dress Shop in Guthrie Center for many years and also helped with the farming. They retired in 1975, due to Marvins health.
Veras relationship with her family and friends was very important. She adored her grandchildren. Marvin died in 1992 and Craig in 1993. Vera moved to Audubon in 1998. It was so hard for her to move from all the memories. After she moved to Audubon she met so many nice friends and enjoyed her life to the fullest. She attended the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. She loved to travel with Helen Luckinbill and she looked forward to the times they had together. Vera celebrated her 90th birthday in March of 2008 in Audubon with her friends and in July of 2008 at Bowman Chapel in Guthrie County with her family.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband were her son Craig Neal; her parents; her brothers and wives and second wives: Harold and Winona Luckinbill; Walter and Vivian Luckinbill; Ray and Norma Luckinbill and Normas second husband, John Dougherty; Kenneth and Ermice Luckinbill and Kenneth second wife, Lelah; niece and family Howard, Beverly and Cheryl Berleman.
She is survived by her grandson Shawn Neal of Columbus, NE and granddaughter Stephanie Neal and Eddie Boruch, both of Osceola, NE; her nephews and wives: Paul Luckinbill of Dallas, TX; Merle Luckinbill of New Orleans, LA; Dennis and Judy Luckinbill Doughtery of Lakewood, CO; David and Mary Luckinbill of Dexter, IA; Dennis and Cheryl Strubbs of Winston-Salem, NC; Helen Luckinbill of San Jacinto, CA; and Joe and Renee Doran of Kennard, NE; 7 great nieces and nephews; 11 great-great nieces and nephews; cousins Fred and Ila Peister of Kearney, NE; close friends: Robert and Joan Adams of Parker, CO; Randy Bruhn of Columbus, NE; many other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Wednesday morning at 9:30 until time of service at the Bowman Chapel Church.

Service:
Celebration of Life Memorial services will be conducted by Pastor Annette Ruhs Kruse and Pastor Kay E. Steddom on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at the Bowman Chapel Church in rural Guthrie County, IA.