Royal J. McNeese

Royal J. McNeese, 89, of Britt, passed away at Westview Care Center in Britt on Friday, November 5, 2004, and went to be with his Lord.

Royal James McNeese, the son of James R. McNeese and Lillie (Robertson) McNeese, was born January 25, 1915, in Talleyrand, Iowa.

On September 5, 1939, Royal was united in marriage to Mary Rakey in Fairfield, Iowa.  The couple farmed near Washington, Iowa until 1946, when they moved to a farm northwest of Britt, where they farmed until 1967.

Having always had a special interest in motorcycles, Royal started a motorcycle business on the farm in 1957 and moved it into Britt in 1973.  At which time they also moved from their farm home into Britt.  Royal continued operating the Harley Davidson shop in town until 1998, when he suffered a stroke and has spent the last 6 years in the Westview Care Center.

Royal is blessed with a very creative mind and used this gift to accomplish many things.  He enjoyed his family, working with mechanics and watching the corn grow.  He accepted Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized when he was in his 30s.  Royal was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Britt where he served on the church board and also as the church treasurer.

He is survived by his wife, Mary of Britt; three sons: Gale (Bev) McNeese, Gary (Theresa) McNeese of Britt and James McNeese; four daughters: Shirley Mikkelson of Lynchberg, Virginia, Sharon (Rick) Clarke of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Sandy (Keith) Janes of Stuart, Florida, and Nancy (J. Mark, Sr.) Aheron of Trumbull, Connecticut.  He was also blessed with 19 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters, one son-in-law and one granddaughter.