Obituaries : L. Neil Waldorf

L. Neil Waldorf

VINTON – L. Neil Waldorf, 89, of Vinton, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following a sudden illness. He had been a resident at Windsor Manor in Vinton for the past three years.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 14, 2012, at the Vinton Presbyterian Church with Pastors Fred Darbonne and Kara Courtney officiating. Private family committal services will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton with military rites conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post 57 and Iowa Military Funeral Honors.

Neil was born August 10, 1922, in Hudson, South Dakota, the son of Horace S. and Florence Ethel Cable Waldorf. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Vinton in 1940. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. He was stationed in the South Pacific and was discharged as a Corporal.

On August 21, 1945, Neil was united in marriage with Kathleen L. Potter in Van Horne, Iowa. Following retirement, the couple volunteered at a hospital in Mission, Texas, for many years. Kathleen preceded him in death on April 27, 2004.

Neil co-owned 4th Street Cleaners in Vinton with his brother-in-law, Marion Isbell; he worked as an accountant and ran a tax service; he owned the Hamburger Inn in Vinton; and he was also a Paymaster for D.C. Taylor Co., retiring in 1986.

Neil was a past member of Vinton’s Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis Club and Country Club. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, camping, boating, bowling and playing cards. His greatest joy in life was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Neil is survived by one son, Monte (Kathy) Waldorf of Charles City; three daughters, Marcia (Delmar) Smith of Center Point, Karen (Edward) Thayer of Chandler, AZ, and Joyce Wood of Cedar Rapids; and one sister, Marion Isbell of Vinton; two sisters-in-law: Harleen Waldorf of Vinton and Ella Potter of Keystone; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; one brother, H. Cable Waldorf; and one sister, Raechel Raish.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Neil and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.