John Neill, 89, died Nov. 22, 2017, at home surrounded by his children.

Funeral service are at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Burial is at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Visitation is 5:15-7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. Rosary is at 5 p.m. at the church. 

John Neill was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Homer, Nebraska, to James and Nellie (McQueen) Neill. He grew up near Emerson, Nebraska, with his twin sister and eight other siblings. Before the days of combines, John was known as the fastest corn picker around, beating even professional corn pickers in the field. He served in the Korean War as a truck driver and mechanic, where he honed his amazing mechanic skills. From cars to tractors, there was nothing that John couldn’t fix. He worked on his family farm for a while after the war, then he and his brother Lee started Neill Brothers Farms in Elkton. He later married Theresa Gebhart and they had five children, who were the light of his life. John loved horses, and had a special connection with them. He could always be found breaking or riding horses in his spare time. 

He loved animals, and there was never an animal that turned up at the farm he did not take in. He imparted this love of animals to his children, and enjoyed riding horse with his children and rounding up cattle on horseback. 

He helped his children raise livestock to show for 4H and loved life on the farm with his family. John had a huge heart. If someone needed to be taken in, he generously offered his home. He helped everyone in any way he could.  When his kids were grown, he continued farming with two of his sons. When not in the field, he could be found in the shop, tinkering with some broken piece of machinery. 

He is survived by his children, John (Kelly) Neill, Brad (Jessica) Neill, James (Karoline) Neill, Michelle (Joshua) Brunsvig and Connie (Shawn) Johnson; 18 grandchildren; his sisters, Joan Martin, Ella Mae Victor, and Patricia Krueger; and the mother of his children Theresa Crisp. 

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Francis, George, James, Earl and Lee and sisters, Mabel, Rose and Elizabeth.

Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.