Frederick B. Neal

View a Video Memorial Frederick B. Neal, 88, of Galesburg, died at 8:15 a.m. Monday, October 29, 2012 at home. Fred was born on July 27, 1924 in Peoria, the son of Berl S. and Beatrice E. (Ware) Neal.  He married Roberta Amundsen on July 10, 1947.  Together they had four children, Sons, Steven (and Donna) of Elmwood and Robert (and Natalie) of Peoria; and daughters, Sharon Hopkins of Charleston, SC and Marcia (and Danny) Gronewold of Washington.  Fred later married Joyce Williams Hallesy on June 3, 2000 in Galesburg.  She survives.  Fred is also survived by three brothers, Albert of Mt. Pleasant, MI, Charles (and Margaret) of Palm Harbor, FL, and Dick (and Kathi) of Thousand Oaks, CA;  Step sons, Patrick (and Rhonda) Hallesy of Spotsylvania, VA, Timothy Hallesy of Littleton, Robert Hallesy of Galesburg, and Jeffrey Hallesy of North Carolina; and step daughters, Lisa (and Bill) Welch of Rock Hill, SC and Amy Hallesy of Mooresville, NC; 10 grandchildren, 18 step grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 3 step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Walter and William; a step brother, Franklin; a sister, Mary Fishel; a granddaughter, Catherine Lee Neal, a stepdaughter, Diana Kay Hallesy; and a great granddaughter, Jada Marie Collins. Fred was a heavy equipment operator working out of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 649 where he was a member for 64 years.  Fred was a life member of Horeb Lodge A.F.&A.M. 363 Elmwood; Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285, Galesburg, and AMVETS.  He served in the US Army Air Corp during WWII from 1943 to 1946.  Over Fred’s lifetime he enjoyed many different hobbies including, hunting, fishing, and most recently baking bread with Joyce and taking it to people who were special to them.  Fred enjoyed being around people and never met a stranger.  He was loved by his family and friends and will be missed by all who knew him. Masonic services will be at 12 noon Thursday, November 1, 2012 at the funeral home with visitation following from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.   Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home.  Rev. Dennis Fitzgerald will officiate.  Cremation rites will be accorded following the funeral and burial of cremated remains will be at a later date in Elmwood Cemetery, Elmwood.  The family requests memorial contributions be directed to Hospice Compassus or to Corpus Christi Catholic Church.