Connie Neese

Full obituary will be posted soon.

A Memorial Service for Connie Neese, 89, of Rippey, Iowa will be 10:30 am Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Rippey United Methodist Church in Rippey, Iowa. Burial will take place at Rippey Cemetery. A visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 26, 2025 at the Rippey United Methodist Church in Rippey. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Greene County Hospital Foundation.

Constance Faye Neese officially changed to Connie :) joined Dale and many many friends/relatives in her eternal home on September 18, 2025 at the age of 89.

Connie was born on January 6, 1936 in Tracy, Minnesota to Joseph and Berniece Spartz. Connie's mother died shortly after childbirth and Connie spent several months in the hospital nursery. Connie was raised until the age of 11 by her beloved grandparents, Sam and Lola Swihart. Connie often shared her memory of walking behind her grandparents' car on the way home from church so she would be ready for a long nap. Her grandmother's command of "Drive on Sam" resonated with her throughout her life..

Connie moved to Iowa to live with her Auntie Inez on her farm when she was 11. She was informed early on that she would be required to work to afford any extras that she wanted in daily life. Her strong work ethic was forever ingrained in her at that time. Connie spent many hours working at the Brobst Café where, ironically, her daughters, Carrie and Cathy (Kate) also worked as teenagers.

While living on the farm, Connie's cousin Dale had many friends that shared the love of motorcycles. Connie was not allowed to interact with these "older boys" although she often peeked through the slats of the corn crib. During one of those sneak peeks, she laid eyes on Dale Neese and never looked at another boy. He was the one for her. They dated for a couple of years until one day when he came back for a visit and said to her "I've got something for you" and that was his proposal. They were married two weeks after Connie's high school graduation on June 6, 1954. The town turned out with gifts and all the wedding trimmings. Everyone knew and loved Connie in Grand Junction.

Dale's work as a tree trimmer/mill owner took them to jobs throughout Iowa and Illinois. When they got to Illinois, they were ready to start their family. Steve and Carrie were born in Danville while Cathy (Kate) and Alan were born in Champaign. Connie, being the socialite that she was, enjoyed meeting other families in the area. Some of these friends became lifelong ones that the Neese family would often visit throughout the years. Connie also had a love for talking on the telephone and writing cards. She continued to stay in touch with old, new, and current friends throughout her life. Connie never knew a stranger.

In 1963 the family had an opportunity to move to a farm outside of Rippey/Grand Junction. That had been their dream all along. Once they moved to the farm, Barbara was born in Jefferson. Farming was a family affair. Grandpa/Grandma Neese and Auntie Marie Coon were often involved to help. Connie worked right along side Dale and the kids milking cows, raising chickens and gardening. Connie was the commander in chief during bean walking season and would reward the kids by taking them to the pool every day after they finished.

Connie put down her chore bucket for the final time in 1971 and stated that she would not milk another cow. At that time, she started nursing school. With her kids being 8-16 she had a passion for caring for others and wanted to help support the family financially. School was tough but she never gave up. Her nursing career started at the Greene County Medical Center and ended at the Woodward State Hospital School. She would often be approached by mothers with their children asking her if she remembered helping to deliver them while working as an OB nurse in Greene County. Connie would smile and say, "Of course I do." Connie enjoyed the challenges as a nurse supervisor at Woodward and treated all of those that she worked with respectfully and with dignity. Connie was a nurse by calling and rendered care and compassion to others until her passing.

Connie was a strong woman of faith. She had a strong devotion to the Rippey United Methodist Church. She enjoyed many years of serving through kids' activities, ice cream socials, garage sales, dinners, and directing the choir for over 30 years. Dale and the kids would sit in the front row of the church so no one would have to turn around to look at the Neese child that might be acting out and Connie could keep an eye on them while sitting in the choir loft. Connie had a beautiful voice and sang at many weddings/funerals. She loved to sing harmony often louder than those around her.

Connie and Dale enjoyed ballroom dancing, playing cards, and pulling the AirStream trailer, traveling in/out of the country and riding motorcycles together. Connie thoroughly enjoyed watching her kids/grandkids events. She always had a loud cheer for them although somewhat delayed at times. She often needed explanations of the game and what good play a child had made.

Connie had an effervescent laugh which was readily sparked by those around her. She and Dale laughed easily at each other. She loved to poke at him, and he would chuckle in return. She was always exuberant to see her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Every grandchild holds a memory with Grandma that they will cherish. She made every one of them feel loved and valued.

In Connie's last five years of life, she struggled with progressive Parkinson's Disease and resided at the Greene County Extended Care. Connie was always pleasant and appreciative of the excellent care that she received from her attending staff as well as the entire hospital team. They all showed compassion and respect to Connie, and she never felt alone. She passed in peace.

Connie and Dale lived by the phrase "Don't ever say good-bye….we will see you down the road."

Connie is preceded in death by her husband Dale, and her parents. She is survived by her children: Steve (Deanna) Neese of Grand Junction, IA, Carrie Strabley of Ames, IA, Kate (Rob) Doerhoff of Ankeny, Iowa, Alan (Katherine) Neese of Jefferson, IA, Barbara Neese (David Ovenshire) of Palo, IA; 16 grandchildren: Lucas (Krista) Neese, Tyler Neese, Jon (Casey) Strabley, Jenny Strabley, Jason (Denise) Doerhoff, Kyle Grubbs, Stacy (James) Sannon, Brock (Caley) Grubbs, Emily Neese, Joshua Neese, Molly (Colton) Paul, Max (Haley) Neese, Bailey Ovenshire (Jake Benson), Riley (Maddy) Ovenshire, Delaney Ovenshire, and Keagan Ovenshire, ; 25 great grandchildren plus one on the way; half siblings: Jeff Spartz, Rebecca Spartz, Lionel Spartz, Mary Jo Spartz, Mike Spartz, Mark Spartz, and Joe Spartz; other relatives and many friends.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.sliningerschroeder.com.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, 515-386-2171