Neelo D. Boomgaarden

Neelo D. Boomgaarden

May 15, 1945 – April 3, 2019

Preceded in death by parents, Rev. N.J.O. and Vera Boomgaarden; infant brother, Neelo Brian.  Survived by wife, Joan L.; brother, Jon (Irene); sister, Verona Roberts (David); nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, April 9^th from 6pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel.  SERVICES: Wednesday, April 10^th at 11am, Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114^th St.  Graveside Service: Thursday, April 11^th at 1pm at Vernon Cemetery in Renwick, Iowa.  Memorials are suggested to Presbyterian Church of the Cross, Salvation Army, or LifeScape Children’s Services (formerly Children’s Care Hospital and School) in Sioux Falls, SD.

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Neelo, son of Rev. Neelo J. O. and Vera V. (Smith) Boomgaarden, was born on May 15, 1945 in Hampton, IA. He lived in several towns beginning with Alexander, IA, then Tracy, MN, Ellsworth, MN, Reading, MN, Marion, SD, Alexandria, NE, Fullerton, NE and lastly Omaha/Elkhorn, NE.

While attending grade school in Marion, Neelo also received training at the Crippled Children’s Hospital and School in Sioux Falls, SD (now LifeScape Children’s Services). In Fullerton, NE, where he graduated from high school, he played the French horn and sang in choir. He delivered newspapers every day in the morning on this 3-wheel bicycle, mowed lawns, shoveled snow and worked in a honey factory. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where his father was the pastor, was active in Senior High Fellowship and was elected and served as a Deacon at 15 years old.

After graduation, Neelo took job skills training at Goodwill in Omaha, NE, eventually moving to Omaha to take business school classes at the NCE School of Commerce from 1970 to 1971. He did well with his 3 main jobs during his work career: Shop/Parts Clerk at Anderson Equipment Company from January, 1972 to March, 1989, Receptionist at Lindsay Water Systems from August, 1989 to March, 1991 and File Clerk in Accounting at Peter Kiewit Company from June, 1991 to March, 2004.

Neelo’s dream was to be a pastor like his father. In Omaha, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church from 1969 to 1987, West Hills Presbyterian Church until 2007, and Presbyterian Church of the Cross since then. He was a faithful member serving others and was elected as a Deacon twice at First Presbyterian Church and a couple of times at West Hills Presbyterian Church. He sang bass in the choir at all three churches, and in his early years, he sang in a barbershop quartet for a few years. Neelo really enjoyed singing! He enjoyed the people in the Friday Night Gourmets and 49ers groups at Presbyterian Church of the Cross.

Neelo met Joan Helmich at Gateways to Life, a singles group at First Presbyterian Church, and they were married at Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church on June 6, 1981. Neelo was active in square dancing from 1969 to 1998 and of course Joan joined him in 1978. He played in bowling and softball leagues with Gateways to Life from 1970 to 1981. They took a couple of trips to England, a nice trip to Hawaii with Joan’s sister, Sandy, and husband, Roy, and traveled to several places in the United States, including Glacier National Park, with Fun Tours from Lincoln. They visited friends and relatives many times in Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Texas, Illinois and Minnesota.

Neelo will be remembered for many things, but especially as a man who loved the Lord, lived a Christian life, cared for and served others, loved his family, loved to laugh and make others laugh, gave the all-time, best hugs, was genuine, quick-witted, playful, well-liked, tough, a gentle soul, and just a good guy.