Obituary of Neal Von Rice

  Neal Von Rice, son of Raymond G. and Patty M. (Papenhausen) Rice, was born at the United States Naval Hospital in San Diego, California on June 29, 1956. He spent most of his youth around Imperial Beach, California where he began his education. When his family relocated to Iowa, Neal attended Remsen-Union High School in Remsen, Iowa where he graduated in 1974.

    Neal continued his education for one more year at Western Iowa Tech in Sioux City, Iowa. He was naturally talented at “building things”, so the tool and die industry was a perfect fit for him. Having lived the bulk of his adult life at Melvin, Iowa, he worked for a time with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Department out of Sibley, Iowa. Using his creative skills, he later began manufacturing recycling equipment out of Melvin, under the brand name of Nature’s Vital Resources (N.V.R.). Eventually, he was employed as a machinist at Northern Iowa Die Casting out of Lake Park, Iowa.

    When he could manage some free time, Neal enjoyed being outdoors. He loved to go on four-wheeling trips and vacations with family and friends, or better his aim at the shooting range. In the fall, he enjoyed hunting with his son, Rod.   

    Neal passed from this life on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at the age of 62. Preceding him in death were his parents, Raymond and Patty Rice; and his son, Rod Rice.

   Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Lisa and her husband, Kevin Koerselman; his two grandchildren: Kaiden and Karter Koerselman all of Sanborn, Iowa; his sisters: Gail Ream and Jill Schnepf both of Matador, Texas; other relatives and friends.