Neva Bechtel

Neva G. Bechtel, 97, of Waukon died Monday, February 11, 2019 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Thursday, February 14 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon with Pastor Kim Gates officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Neva Grace Bechtel was born September 20, 1921 in the Rossville area, the daughter of Ernest and Margaret (Valley) Deal. She attended Rossville schools through the eighth grade before attending Waukon High School. Exactly one year before she got married, Neva was baptized at Rossville Presbyterian Church.

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 and Dean (Sherry) Bechtel of Monona; her grandchildren: Donna (Duane) Larkin of Lake City, MN, Jean (Brian) Krambeer of Rushford, MN, Dr. Michael (Melissa) Bechtel of Waverly, NiCole (Kurt) Dennler of Elkader, 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.

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

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

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.