April 26, 1947 – December 10, 2021
Roger Alton Neal, 74, Noblesville, passed away on Friday, December 10, 2021, at his hand-built log home in the woods.
Roger was a 1965 graduate of Noblesville High School. In June of 1966, before his sophomore year at Purdue University, he enlisted in the United States Navy. At age 19, he shipped out to Da Nang, South Vietnam. Having driven Harger Farms tractors as a teenager, he had a natural knack for heavy machinery. Upon entry into the Navy, he was assigned the rank of 3rd Class Petty Officer as a member of The Fighting Seabees. When he returned from active duty, his service to his country (and the GI Bill) paid for three more years of Purdue University, where he obtained a biology degree.
Roger worked for 37 years for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a wildlife biologist, property manager and specialist at Hovey Lake, Glendale, and Indianapolis. He was universally respected by colleagues, hunters, employees, farmers, campers, and fishermen, and was integral in implementing increased wildlife conservation efforts. In his “spare time,” Roger scouted, harvested, hauled, split, and delivered thousands of loads of the finest firewood to Daviess and Hamilton County families.
Roger worked tirelessly, using only a Rand McNally atlas and guidebooks to plan once-in-a-lifetime summer vacations for his family to Yellowstone, Yosemite, Redwood National Forest, Crater Lake, the Grand Canyon, the Alamo, and Alaska. He found unlimited pleasure in the outdoors and cherished every second he spent there. He was a lifelong member of Union United Methodist Church. He loved The Beach Boys, pickup trucks, Gene Keady, the St. Louis Cardinals, changing his own oil, Budweiser, bluegill fillets, firm handshakes, Red Wing boots, and his father’s 1950 Ford 8N tractor.
Roger encouraged his children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to never stop learning. To ask questions. To respect your elders. To be fearless. To take your lumps. He taught them to do something right the first time, that nothing is ever broken, and, most importantly, to leave the world a better place than what you found it.
Left with decades of unforgettable memories are his loving wife of 52 years, Sharon Sue Gibson Neal; son, Jeff (Jamie) Neal of Vincennes; daughter, Jennifer (Chad) Schlotter of Noblesville; sisters, Darlene (Joel) Musselman of Noblesville and Marilyn (Niles) Cline of Union, Ky.; and grandchildren, Allison, Haley, Katelyn, Kyle, Kolden, Chase, and Cooper.
Leaving this world before Roger were his father, George Russell Neal, and mother, Leona (Harrold) Neal; at least seven John Deere lawnmowers; horses Dusty, Star, and Lady; and dozens of good dogs, including Babe, Laddie, Belle, and his four-legged best friend, Heidi.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan St., Noblesville. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home. Roger will be laid to rest following the service at Crownland Cemetery, 1776 Monument St., Noblesville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Union United Methodist Church, 19090 Deshane Ave., Noblesville, IN 46060; and Alzheimer’s Association, 50 E. 91st St., Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
Condolences: randallroberts.com