Roger Neels, 77 of Montezuma passed away Thursday morning, September 30, 2021 at his home in Montezuma. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at the Community Hope Church in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Montezuma Fire Department or the Blakley-Stevens American Legion Post 169 in Montezuma. Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.hollandcoblefuneralhomes.com . Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Roger Dale Neels, the son of Leonard and Margaret (Stouwie) Neels, was born on February 28, 1944 in Sully, Iowa. He attended Pella Christian High School. On March 14, 1969, Roger was united in marriage to Linda Akers-Thompson at the Montezuma Methodist Church. To this union they raised three children, Bill, Sheryl and Tony.  Roger enlisted with the United States Army in 1965, where he was a helicopter gunner during the Vietnam War. After he was honorably discharged in 1967, Roger held several sales positions and drove semi-truck.  In 1981, Roger moved to Montezuma and began his sanitation career with Brooks Cartidge before owning and operating R&L Sanitation for several years until his retirement. Roger enjoyed shooting pool, bowling and hanging out on his deck with some friends having a cold one. He loved 50's and 60's music and could tell you who sang every song. Roger was a member of the Montezuma Fire Department, the Blakley-Stevens American Legion Post #196 and the VFW.

His legacy will  be honored by Linda Neels; their children, Bill (Kim) Thompson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sheryl (Todd) Freeborn of Montezuma and Tony (Nancy) Neels of Altoona; grandchildren, Kati (Justin) Bernard, Dustin Jividen, Krystal (Adam) Talbert, Colin (Kiegan) Watts, Seth (Lexi Kriegel) Freeborn, Melissa (Jimmy) Reed, Christopher (Abby Weinzetl) Thompson; 12 great grandchildren; a sister, Loretta Neels Thomas; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Neels and Dawn (Chuck)Akers Farmer; along with other friends, Doug and Carrie Barnes and Kim Wiegand, and many other nieces, nephews and friends .

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Margaret Neels and a brother, Willis Neels.