John F. MacNeill Aug 7, 1938 – Apr 3, 2015 John was raised in Edgemont, SD and Alliance, NE, where his father worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad and his mother was a schoolteacher. He graduated from Doane College in Crete, NE. There he majored in History, played football, and was active in the DKP Fraternity. John married Barbara Lou Harris in 1962 and they were happily married for 52 years. In Topeka, KS, he taught geography and history, and coached several sports at Crane and Holiday Junior High Schools. He earned his masters degree in counseling from Emporia State College. After moving to Omaha, NE in 1971, John worked as a guidance counselor at Beveridge Junior High School for twenty-four years. He enjoyed working with junior high-aged students and the staff at Beveridge, retiring in 1995. John was a life-long, avid Boston Red Sox fan and watched Red Sox games on a daily basis with Barbara. They visited many major-league baseball parks on their travels. John loved to travel and plan trips. Favorite destinations included the Black Hills, Nova Scotia, and going on European river cruises. He enjoyed traveling to attend reunions with his DKP brothers and Alliance class mates. Johns favorite pastimes were getting together with friends for a meal or card game, attending the Omaha Symphony, and settling in with a good book and cup of tea. He enjoyed planning meals and especially enjoyed perusing cookbooks to find new recipes. He spent endless hours playing games with his family and reading to his daughters and grandson. John was an active member of the First Christian Church congregation, giving many years of service on committees and singing in the church choir. He was a faithful follower of Christ throughout his life, turning to God through good times and bad. John was devoted to his family and was a constant source of love, encouragement, and guidance. He never failed to let Barbara and his daughters Leah and Sally know how proud he was of them. He was a very loving and involved husband and father. He warmly welcomed Leahs family Dan and Alicia, and rejoiced in the birth of his grandson, John Lee. Alicia and John Lee brought great joy to his life and he loved being a grandpa. His family was his greatest priority. Having his parents close to him and caring for them in the last years of their lives was so important to John. He also was happy to be able to spend more time with his brother and sister-in-law when Roger and Loree moved back to Omaha after retirement. His family misses him profoundly and more than these simple words could ever convey. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He was preceded in death by his parents, John J. and Maude MacNeill. He is survived by his wife, Barbara L. MacNeill; daughters, Sally MacNeill and Leah MacNeill (Dan Arizmendis); grandchildren, John Lee Arizmendis and Alicia Arizmendis; brother, Roger MacNeill (Loree); niece, Heather MacNeill (Glenn Wirick). The family will receive friends Wednesday, April 8th, from 5pm to 7pm at the West Center Chapel. SERVICES Thursday, April 9th at 11am at First Christian Church, 6630 Dodge St. Interment, Evergreen Memorial Park. Memorials are suggested to First Christian Church.
HEAFEY-HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900
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