Jim Neville, age 68 of Rockwell City, IA, formerly of Odebolt, IA, passed away on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home in Fort Dodge, IA, surrounded by his family. James Herman Neville was born on June 29, 1955, to parents John George and Dorothy Marie (Bauer) Neville in Sac City, IA. He grew up in both Odebolt and Sac City.
On August 18, 1973, Jim married the love of his life, Vickie Lynn O’Brien, at the Presbyterian Church in Odebolt. This union was blessed with four daughters, Tonya, Kaylinn, Trisha, and Kandi. They raised their family in Odebolt where Jim remained until moving to Rockwell City after Vickie’s passing in 2010. Jim drove semi for many years before becoming a farmhand. After that, Jim was employed at Gomaco in Ida Grove for twenty years. After leaving Gomaco, he worked as a maintenance man in a local nursing home. Jim retired in 2016 after his health no longer allowed him to work.
Jim was a family man; nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with his loved ones. He and Vickie enjoyed taking the girls camping and fishing and even on a trip now and then to Adventureland. They always looked forward to camping in Lake View every year during the Water Carnival. He wasn’t the stand back and watch kind of dad, he got in on all the fun, all the time! Whether it was water gun fights, giving piggy back rides, listening to loud music and dancing around the house, or making darn sure each girl learned to drive “Ol’ Bess” (an old Ford stick shift truck) while sitting on his lap being all of maybe ten years old, he was all about the fun to be had. On the other hand, he taught his girls what it meant to have good work ethic. Together as a family they cut down trees and split the wood so their home would be warm all winter long. They also raised a lot of rabbits that were then sold for butchering and all of the girls had to pitch in and help.
Jim and Vickie loved dancing. Anywhere they went that had music and a dancefloor, they were sure to be out showing everyone just how great they were together. People cleared the floor to watch, that’s how good they were! Jim was also the area Santa Claus for many years. He would suit up and visit people’s homes by request as well as make appearances at events throughout the community. He truly loved playing that role and bringing smiles to children’s faces.
Jim was a volunteer firefighter and served twenty years on the Odebolt Community Fire Department. He was also a first responder for five years. He truly loved his community and was proud to give back to it any way he could. He is so missed by his family and all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his daughters, Tonya Hein of Battle Creek, IA, Kaylinn Schlender of Ida Grove, IA, Trisha (Jeremiah) Kruckenberg of Indianola, IA, and Kandi (Drew) Stanford of Indianola, IA; grandchildren: Tyler Sohm (special friend Katie Wolf) of Waterloo, IA, Zane Sohm of Galva, IA, Brennen Sohm of Battle Creek, IA, Brady (Emily) Schlender of Dyersville, IA, Kelsey (Cory) Luke of Box Elder, SD, Bryce Schlender of Ida Grove, IA, Trey Kruckenberg of Tifton, IA, Shalea Kruckenberg of Des Moines, IA, Brynlee, Regan, Jordyn, and Casen Stanford all of Indianola, IA; great-granddaughter Sawyer Luke and one more on the way; sister Carol (Bob) Lane of Cherokee, IA; mother-in-law Jeannette O’Brien of Battle Creek, IA; sister-in-law Cheryl (Marc) Van Houten of Dexter, IA; brother-in-law Tom O’Brien of Battle Creek; special friend Kathy Hammen of Rockwell City, IA; many other extended family members and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Vickie Neville; parents George and Dorothy Neville; stepbrother Donny Sapp; father-in-law Tom O’Brien, Sr.; maternal grandparents Herman and Peggy Bauer; and paternal grandparents John and Mary Neville.
