Jonathan David Neal

Jonathan David Neal, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, entered into God's rest at his home in La Mirada, CA on July 26th 2025 at the age of 73. Jon was born in 1952 to George and Marjorie Neal in Cherokee, Iowa, the firstborn son of a midwest preacher and the eldest of 6 children. Jon is remembered by his wife Miriam, his son JD (Rachel), his siblings - Joyce, Jean (Phil), Kathryn (Rob), Deborah (Barry), and George (Bonnie) - nephews & nieces, many beloved cousins, and even more dear friends. Jon lived a life marked by creativity, tenacity, and deep devotion to his musical vocation, his faith, and his family.
Jon discovered a passion for music early in his life and he dove into this passion headfirst and pursued it with patience and grit for the rest of his life. Graduating from high school, Jon attended Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music, where he came to see his passion for music also as a vital area of service to the church. He moved west, settling near his cousins in Southern California to attend Biola University and further his education in music and ministry. He spent time in Ecuador and went on to continue studying composition and ethnomusicology at UCLA so that he could combine his love for music and his desire to serve the church in other parts of the world through missions.
Jon never stopped working in professional music and through a combination of patience, kindness, and sheer grit Jon carved out a career for himself as a composer and arranger in a notoriously difficult industry. Jon went on to focus his later years in policy work with musicians' organizations like the Society of Composers & Lyricists which advocate for the equitable treatment and intellectual property rights of artists and musicians. He also returned to Biola and taught composition lessons and seminars there for several years.
At the same time, Jon always remained focused on the ministry of music in churches, and often worked as a music & worship minister in local churches. In his later years, he especially loved to participate in missions work in other countries, traveling to Indonesia, Denmark, and Panama to help local ministries offer musical training and resources to their communities.
At one of these local churches, Jon met Miriam. Eventually, extended conversations in the parking lot turned into long road trips on Jon's motorcycle and, after awhile, grew into a lifelong love and marriage that celebrated 34 years in April. After a few years, Miriam and Jon went on to welcome their only son, JD, into the world, becoming loving and supportive parents.
Jon never missed an opportunity to share a family story or to tell a dad-joke. He and Miriam were faithful with their gifts, generous and hospitable, always offering kindness to those they met and welcoming many into their home over the years. Jon was a faithful member of both EV Free Fullerton and the Danish Lutheran Church for many years, and spent much of his life serving the church with his many gifts.
In death, Jon has passed fully into the loving arms of God, joining that great Music that plays at the center of all things, and is reunited with his parents and many dear friends and family who went ahead of him. His kindness, generosity, and devotion will be cherished by all who carry his memory.
Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
Donating to the Jonathan David Neal String Sprouts memorial fund. https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/7458784