Larry Neely, 89, of Charles City, passed into the loving arms of his Savior, Monday, February 23, 2026 in Charles City, IA.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at The Bridge Church in Charles City. The funeral service is to follow at 10:30 a.m. with Mark Jenkins officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
Larry Eugene Neely, the son of Lester and Martha (Rhodes) Neely, was born December 19, 1936, at the Franklin Hospital in Franklin, Pennsylvania. He was raised on a farm and attended school in nearby Emlenton. Larry was united in marriage to Darlene Chambers on June 18, 1960, at First Methodist Church in Charles City.
Larry received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1958 from the LeTourneau Technical Institute in Longview, Texas. He worked his way through college debt-free by doing furnace and air conditioner installation, farm work and pipeline construction. He worked as an experimental engineer at Oliver Corporation from 1958 through 1964, then moved to Pontiac, Michigan in May 1964 to work as a test engineer for GMC Truck and Coach.
In 1968, an opportunity to work with Gary Mills and Floyd Wamsley arose back in Charles City and after some time working together in their newly combined plumbing, heating and electrical businesses, Mills-Neely operations and appliance showroom was built at 312 N. Main Street. Larry continued this business until selling his share in 1980. Charles City experienced an especially difficult economy during this time and work was scarce. The small farm was not enough to sustain the family.
At his cousin’s invitation to explore a better job market in Kansas, Larry visited McPherson and before he left, had three job opportunities. In August 1983, Larry and Darlene sold their sheep, rented a moving truck, borrowed a trailer and headed to Kansas. Larry began work with Albert’s Plumbing and Heating. As loyal members of the Free Methodist Church, Larry became aware of a job at the associated Central College. After initially missing out on the job, he was eventually hired as their physical plant director and head of buildings and grounds in 1984. Three of his children attended Central and Larry worked there until his retirement in 1999.
During early retirement Larry and Darlene joined a volunteer Christian-based traveling mission group of skilled, retired RVers. During those 4 years, they crossed the country and participated in many 3-week-long projects in California, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Louisiana to name a few, working primarily at camps and churches.
Larry was a longtime Rotarian, active church board member and in the 1970’s became a founding member of the regional Gideon International chapter. He enjoyed helping others, being a “sheep herder,” having his kids hold the flashlight, and pinching every penny. He was a jack of all trades—sharing much knowledge, know-how and wisdom with his children—and anyone willing to listen.
He is survived by his wife Darlene Neely; sister, Connie Pryor of Emlenton, PA; five children: Rachel (DeWight) Connerley of Floyd, IA, Philip (Rhonda) Neely of Bluffton, SC, Mark (Brenda) Neely of Beaumont, TX, Timothy (Donna) Neely of Wichita, KS and Stephen (Ticha) Neely of Apollo Beach, FL; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to Gideons International or a charity of the donor’s choice in care of Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
