Neal Shupe Southwick, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in Meridian, Idaho on Wednesday January 6, 2016 at 5:35pm after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Neal was born on December 13, 1941 in Ogden, Utah. When he was 6 years old, his family moved their sawmill business to Willits, California. This is where Neal's childhood years were spent surrounded by a large extended family.
When Neal was 19 years old, he served an LDS mission from March 1961 to March 1963 in the Gulf States Mission. After returning home he attended LDS Business College where he served as student body president and graduated in accounting.
Toward the end of his time there Neal met his sweetheart, Marilyn Bitter, at a young single adult church dance. After he graduated he took a job as a junior accountant at Aetna Insurance Company in San Francisco, California. He had been so smitten by Marilyn that he traveled back to Utah almost every weekend to court her. His sincere efforts paid off when she accepted his marriage proposal and they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 17, 1965.
They began their married life in San Francisco with Neal working for Aetna and Marilyn working as legal secretary. However, it did not take long for Neal to feel the urge to use his talents in the teaching profession. This led the newlyweds back to Utah to attend BYU where Neal originally intended to become a seminary teacher. However, he was so intrigued by a genealogy class that he changed his major and thus began his life-long love of genealogy and family history.
During the short Utah years, their first two children were born. Neal graduated from BYU as an accredited genealogist with a bachelor's degree in 1969 and was hired by Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho to teach genealogy and family history in the Religion Department. He also taught other religion classes, including Book of Mormon. Neal later furthered his education with a master's degree in Library Science from BYU in 1971 and a doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1985. He was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Neal was passionate about genealogy and family history and loved teaching others, hoping they would feel the same excitement that he did. He was a longtime member of the Utah Genealogical Association and for a time served as its President. His heart was truly turned toward his own ancestors. This is reflected in over three decades of effort to appreciate their contribution to his family legacy.
Neal authored and published two books about his ancestry, beginning with his great, great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Sr., who emigrated from England in 1859. He felt so drawn to learning about his forbearers, who they were and what they went through, that he spent many years retracing the footsteps of their lives. Over the years this included four trips to England where Neal visited their birthplaces, the churches they were married in, the towns where they lived, and the places they are buried so he could learn all he could about them. In 1997 he trekked by handcart from Winter Quarters across part of Nebraska and then again from Fort Bridger, Wyoming into the Salt Lake Valley. This is the way Neal's great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Jr. came to Salt Lake City in 1852 as a five year old boy.
In 2001 he was able to retrace his ancestor's ocean voyage by participating in Sea Trek, sailing in a replica ship from Liverpool, England, arriving at Ellis Island, New York City over six weeks later.
Neal was dedicated to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always willing and eager to give of his time and talents in the service of others. While raising their young family together, he was called to serve as the Branch President of a Ricks College student branch in the early 1970's. Later he served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Sugar City 4th Ward from 1980 to 1986 and then as Bishop from 1986 to 1993. He was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and he understood the happiness that comes from living gospel principles every day. Neal retired from BYU-Idaho in 2006 after teaching for 37 years and influencing for good the lives of thousands of students. He and Marilyn were then able to realize their longtime dream of serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2009-2010 they served an 18 month proselyting mission in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. From 2012-2013 they served 18 months in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Neal and Marilyn built a home in Sugar City, Idaho where they raised their family of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaCelle Southwick; and his daughter, Melanie Southwick.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bitter Southwick, of Meridian, ID; his children: Angela Larson (Jared), of Harrisburg, NC, Spencer Southwick (Renae), of Battle Ground, WA, Boyd Southwick (Heidi), of Idaho Falls, ID, Andrew Southwick, of Nampa, ID, Marne Clark (Chad), of Meridian, Christopher Southwick (Eleonora), of Budapest, Hungary, Nathan Southwick (Ashlee), of Meridian, and Mathew Southwick (Julia), of Clarksburg, WV; 26 grandchildren; and his siblings: Karen Haney (Leo), Roger Southwick (Sandy), David Southwick (Charlene), Blake Southwick (Jana) and Mathew Southwick (Vickie).
Viewings will be held at the following locations and times: Saturday January 9, 2016 at Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho from 4:00-7:00pm; Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, Idaho from 5:30-7:00pm; Friday, January 15, 2016 at the LDS Church located at 6 North Teton Avenue Sugar City, ID from 10:00-10:45am.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00am following the viewing at the LDS Church in Sugar City on Friday, January 15, 2016.
Interment will be at the Sugar City Cemetery.
Neal was born on December 13, 1941 in Ogden, Utah. When he was 6 years old, his family moved their sawmill business to Willits, California. This is where Neal's childhood years were spent surrounded by a large extended family.
When Neal was 19 years old, he served an LDS mission from March 1961 to March 1963 in the Gulf States Mission. After returning home he attended LDS Business College where he served as student body president and graduated in accounting.
Toward the end of his time there Neal met his sweetheart, Marilyn Bitter, at a young single adult church dance. After he graduated he took a job as a junior accountant at Aetna Insurance Company in San Francisco, California. He had been so smitten by Marilyn that he traveled back to Utah almost every weekend to court her. His sincere efforts paid off when she accepted his marriage proposal and they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 17, 1965.
They began their married life in San Francisco with Neal working for Aetna and Marilyn working as legal secretary. However, it did not take long for Neal to feel the urge to use his talents in the teaching profession. This led the newlyweds back to Utah to attend BYU where Neal originally intended to become a seminary teacher. However, he was so intrigued by a genealogy class that he changed his major and thus began his life-long love of genealogy and family history.
During the short Utah years, their first two children were born. Neal graduated from BYU as an accredited genealogist with a bachelor's degree in 1969 and was hired by Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho to teach genealogy and family history in the Religion Department. He also taught other religion classes, including Book of Mormon. Neal later furthered his education with a master's degree in Library Science from BYU in 1971 and a doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1985. He was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Neal was passionate about genealogy and family history and loved teaching others, hoping they would feel the same excitement that he did. He was a longtime member of the Utah Genealogical Association and for a time served as its President. His heart was truly turned toward his own ancestors. This is reflected in over three decades of effort to appreciate their contribution to his family legacy.
Neal authored and published two books about his ancestry, beginning with his great, great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Sr., who emigrated from England in 1859. He felt so drawn to learning about his forbearers, who they were and what they went through, that he spent many years retracing the footsteps of their lives. Over the years this included four trips to England where Neal visited their birthplaces, the churches they were married in, the towns where they lived, and the places they are buried so he could learn all he could about them. In 1997 he trekked by handcart from Winter Quarters across part of Nebraska and then again from Fort Bridger, Wyoming into the Salt Lake Valley. This is the way Neal's great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Jr. came to Salt Lake City in 1852 as a five year old boy.
In 2001 he was able to retrace his ancestor's ocean voyage by participating in Sea Trek, sailing in a replica ship from Liverpool, England, arriving at Ellis Island, New York City over six weeks later.
Neal was dedicated to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always willing and eager to give of his time and talents in the service of others. While raising their young family together, he was called to serve as the Branch President of a Ricks College student branch in the early 1970's. Later he served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Sugar City 4th Ward from 1980 to 1986 and then as Bishop from 1986 to 1993. He was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and he understood the happiness that comes from living gospel principles every day. Neal retired from BYU-Idaho in 2006 after teaching for 37 years and influencing for good the lives of thousands of students. He and Marilyn were then able to realize their longtime dream of serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2009-2010 they served an 18 month proselyting mission in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. From 2012-2013 they served 18 months in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Neal and Marilyn built a home in Sugar City, Idaho where they raised their family of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaCelle Southwick; and his daughter, Melanie Southwick.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bitter Southwick, of Meridian, ID; his children: Angela Larson (Jared), of Harrisburg, NC, Spencer Southwick (Renae), of Battle Ground, WA, Boyd Southwick (Heidi), of Idaho Falls, ID, Andrew Southwick, of Nampa, ID, Marne Clark (Chad), of Meridian, Christopher Southwick (Eleonora), of Budapest, Hungary, Nathan Southwick (Ashlee), of Meridian, and Mathew Southwick (Julia), of Clarksburg, WV; 26 grandchildren; and his siblings: Karen Haney (Leo), Roger Southwick (Sandy), David Southwick (Charlene), Blake Southwick (Jana) and Mathew Southwick (Vickie).
Viewings will be held at the following locations and times: Saturday January 9, 2016 at Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho from 4:00-7:00pm; Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, Idaho from 5:30-7:00pm; Friday, January 15, 2016 at the LDS Church located at 6 North Teton Avenue Sugar City, ID from 10:00-10:45am.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00am following the viewing at the LDS Church in Sugar City on Friday, January 15, 2016.
Interment will be at the Sugar City Cemetery.
Neal Shupe Southwick, 74, passed away peacefully at his home in Meridian, Idaho on Wednesday January 6, 2016 at 5:35pm after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
Neal was born on December 13, 1941 in Ogden, Utah. When he was 6 years old, his family moved their sawmill business to Willits, California. This is where Neal's childhood years were spent surrounded by a large extended family.
When Neal was 19 years old, he served an LDS mission from March 1961 to March 1963 in the Gulf States Mission. After returning home he attended LDS Business College where he served as student body president and graduated in accounting.
Toward the end of his time there Neal met his sweetheart, Marilyn Bitter, at a young single adult church dance. After he graduated he took a job as a junior accountant at Aetna Insurance Company in San Francisco, California. He had been so smitten by Marilyn that he traveled back to Utah almost every weekend to court her. His sincere efforts paid off when she accepted his marriage proposal and they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 17, 1965.
They began their married life in San Francisco with Neal working for Aetna and Marilyn working as legal secretary. However, it did not take long for Neal to feel the urge to use his talents in the teaching profession. This led the newlyweds back to Utah to attend BYU where Neal originally intended to become a seminary teacher. However, he was so intrigued by a genealogy class that he changed his major and thus began his life-long love of genealogy and family history.
During the short Utah years, their first two children were born. Neal graduated from BYU as an accredited genealogist with a bachelor's degree in 1969 and was hired by Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho to teach genealogy and family history in the Religion Department. He also taught other religion classes, including Book of Mormon. Neal later furthered his education with a master's degree in Library Science from BYU in 1971 and a doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1985. He was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Neal was passionate about genealogy and family history and loved teaching others, hoping they would feel the same excitement that he did. He was a longtime member of the Utah Genealogical Association and for a time served as its President. His heart was truly turned toward his own ancestors. This is reflected in over three decades of effort to appreciate their contribution to his family legacy.
Neal authored and published two books about his ancestry, beginning with his great, great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Sr., who emigrated from England in 1859. He felt so drawn to learning about his forbearers, who they were and what they went through, that he spent many years retracing the footsteps of their lives. Over the years this included four trips to England where Neal visited their birthplaces, the churches they were married in, the towns where they lived, and the places they are buried so he could learn all he could about them. In 1997 he trekked by handcart from Winter Quarters across part of Nebraska and then again from Fort Bridger, Wyoming into the Salt Lake Valley. This is the way Neal's great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Jr. came to Salt Lake City in 1852 as a five year old boy.
In 2001 he was able to retrace his ancestor's ocean voyage by participating in Sea Trek, sailing in a replica ship from Liverpool, England, arriving at Ellis Island, New York City over six weeks later.
Neal was dedicated to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always willing and eager to give of his time and talents in the service of others. While raising their young family together, he was called to serve as the Branch President of a Ricks College student branch in the early 1970's. Later he served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Sugar City 4th Ward from 1980 to 1986 and then as Bishop from 1986 to 1993. He was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and he understood the happiness that comes from living gospel principles every day. Neal retired from BYU-Idaho in 2006 after teaching for 37 years and influencing for good the lives of thousands of students. He and Marilyn were then able to realize their longtime dream of serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2009-2010 they served an 18 month proselyting mission in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. From 2012-2013 they served 18 months in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Neal and Marilyn built a home in Sugar City, Idaho where they raised their family of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaCelle Southwick; and his daughter, Melanie Southwick.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bitter Southwick, of Meridian, ID; his children: Angela Larson (Jared), of Harrisburg, NC, Spencer Southwick (Renae), of Battle Ground, WA, Boyd Southwick (Heidi), of Idaho Falls, ID, Andrew Southwick, of Nampa, ID, Marne Clark (Chad), of Meridian, Christopher Southwick (Eleonora), of Budapest, Hungary, Nathan Southwick (Ashlee), of Meridian, and Mathew Southwick (Julia), of Clarksburg, WV; 26 grandchildren; and his siblings: Karen Haney (Leo), Roger Southwick (Sandy), David Southwick (Charlene), Blake Southwick (Jana) and Mathew Southwick (Vickie).
Viewings will be held at the following locations and times: Saturday January 9, 2016 at Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho from 4:00-7:00pm; Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, Idaho from 5:30-7:00pm; Friday, January 15, 2016 at the LDS Church located at 6 North Teton Avenue Sugar City, ID from 10:00-10:45am.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00am following the viewing at the LDS Church in Sugar City on Friday, January 15, 2016.
Interment will be at the Sugar City Cemetery.
Neal was born on December 13, 1941 in Ogden, Utah. When he was 6 years old, his family moved their sawmill business to Willits, California. This is where Neal's childhood years were spent surrounded by a large extended family.
When Neal was 19 years old, he served an LDS mission from March 1961 to March 1963 in the Gulf States Mission. After returning home he attended LDS Business College where he served as student body president and graduated in accounting.
Toward the end of his time there Neal met his sweetheart, Marilyn Bitter, at a young single adult church dance. After he graduated he took a job as a junior accountant at Aetna Insurance Company in San Francisco, California. He had been so smitten by Marilyn that he traveled back to Utah almost every weekend to court her. His sincere efforts paid off when she accepted his marriage proposal and they were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on June 17, 1965.
They began their married life in San Francisco with Neal working for Aetna and Marilyn working as legal secretary. However, it did not take long for Neal to feel the urge to use his talents in the teaching profession. This led the newlyweds back to Utah to attend BYU where Neal originally intended to become a seminary teacher. However, he was so intrigued by a genealogy class that he changed his major and thus began his life-long love of genealogy and family history.
During the short Utah years, their first two children were born. Neal graduated from BYU as an accredited genealogist with a bachelor's degree in 1969 and was hired by Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho to teach genealogy and family history in the Religion Department. He also taught other religion classes, including Book of Mormon. Neal later furthered his education with a master's degree in Library Science from BYU in 1971 and a doctorate in Education from Nova University in 1985. He was a member of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.
Neal was passionate about genealogy and family history and loved teaching others, hoping they would feel the same excitement that he did. He was a longtime member of the Utah Genealogical Association and for a time served as its President. His heart was truly turned toward his own ancestors. This is reflected in over three decades of effort to appreciate their contribution to his family legacy.
Neal authored and published two books about his ancestry, beginning with his great, great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Sr., who emigrated from England in 1859. He felt so drawn to learning about his forbearers, who they were and what they went through, that he spent many years retracing the footsteps of their lives. Over the years this included four trips to England where Neal visited their birthplaces, the churches they were married in, the towns where they lived, and the places they are buried so he could learn all he could about them. In 1997 he trekked by handcart from Winter Quarters across part of Nebraska and then again from Fort Bridger, Wyoming into the Salt Lake Valley. This is the way Neal's great grandfather, Joseph Southwick Jr. came to Salt Lake City in 1852 as a five year old boy.
In 2001 he was able to retrace his ancestor's ocean voyage by participating in Sea Trek, sailing in a replica ship from Liverpool, England, arriving at Ellis Island, New York City over six weeks later.
Neal was dedicated to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was always willing and eager to give of his time and talents in the service of others. While raising their young family together, he was called to serve as the Branch President of a Ricks College student branch in the early 1970's. Later he served as a counselor in the Bishopric of the Sugar City 4th Ward from 1980 to 1986 and then as Bishop from 1986 to 1993. He was passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ and he understood the happiness that comes from living gospel principles every day. Neal retired from BYU-Idaho in 2006 after teaching for 37 years and influencing for good the lives of thousands of students. He and Marilyn were then able to realize their longtime dream of serving missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2009-2010 they served an 18 month proselyting mission in the Oklahoma Oklahoma City Mission. From 2012-2013 they served 18 months in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Neal and Marilyn built a home in Sugar City, Idaho where they raised their family of nine children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and LaCelle Southwick; and his daughter, Melanie Southwick.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bitter Southwick, of Meridian, ID; his children: Angela Larson (Jared), of Harrisburg, NC, Spencer Southwick (Renae), of Battle Ground, WA, Boyd Southwick (Heidi), of Idaho Falls, ID, Andrew Southwick, of Nampa, ID, Marne Clark (Chad), of Meridian, Christopher Southwick (Eleonora), of Budapest, Hungary, Nathan Southwick (Ashlee), of Meridian, and Mathew Southwick (Julia), of Clarksburg, WV; 26 grandchildren; and his siblings: Karen Haney (Leo), Roger Southwick (Sandy), David Southwick (Charlene), Blake Southwick (Jana) and Mathew Southwick (Vickie).
Viewings will be held at the following locations and times: Saturday January 9, 2016 at Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho from 4:00-7:00pm; Thursday, January 14, 2016 at Flamm Funeral Home in Rexburg, Idaho from 5:30-7:00pm; Friday, January 15, 2016 at the LDS Church located at 6 North Teton Avenue Sugar City, ID from 10:00-10:45am.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00am following the viewing at the LDS Church in Sugar City on Friday, January 15, 2016.
Interment will be at the Sugar City Cemetery.
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