Neva Bechtel

Neva G. Bechtel, 97, of Waukon, IA, died Monday, February 11, 2019, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 14th, at 1:00 PM at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 11:30 AM until the time of services Thursday at the church. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements.

Neva Grace Bechtel was born September 20, 1921, in the Rossville, IA, area, the daughter of Ernest and Margaret (Valley) Deal. She attended Rossville schools through the 8 ^th grade before attending Waukon High School. Exactly one year before she got married, Neva was baptized at Rossville Presbyterian Church. On December 25, 1939, Neva married Lloyd Benjamin Bechtel at the Zion Reformed Church parsonage in Waukon. They farmed in Jefferson Township, milking cows and raising dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Neva also tended to a large garden, which she did a lot of canning from. In the late 1980s, Neva and Lloyd moved into Waukon.

Neva was a member of Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, where she was active in women's fellowship and was the designated coffee maker. She was also a past women's vice president for Farm Bureau. She and Lloyd kept busy socializing with their neighbors and friends, either hosting card clubs at their home or traveling to someone else's to play several nights a week. In fact, Neva was the founder of the Social Homemakers of the Farming Community. As an animal lover, Neva brought into the house many lambs, piglets, ducks, and even a pony to care for over the years. She also enjoyed traveling and made trips to Alaska and Washington, D.C.

She is survived by her three children: Janet (Al Buege) Bechtel of Waukon, Karen (Terry) Hermeier of Waterloo, IA, and Dean (Sherry) Bechtel of Monona, IA; her grandchildren: Donna (Duane) Larkin of Lake City, MN, Jean (Brian) Krambeer of Rushford, MN, Dr. Michael (Melissa) Bechtel of Waverly, IA, NiCole (Kurt) Dennler of Elkader, IA, Angela (Larry Platt) Frieden of Waukon, Daniel (Sandy) Bechtel of Waukon, and Chad Hermeier of Waterloo; 11 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law Judy (Charles) Harmon of Des Moines, IA.

Neva was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lloyd in 1993; her brother Donald (Bernice) Deal; and sisters-in-law: Inez (Gerald) Kurth, Gladys (Carl) Beall, Gertrude (Milton) Sommermeyer, Ruby (Ronald) Barr, and Doris (Vernon) Sims.

Honorary casketbearers are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Dr. Mike Bechtel, Mike and Joe Frieden, Drake Dennler, Daniel Bechtel, and Chad Hermeier.