Roland H. Neureiter - 1934-2005
U.S.Air Force veteran
Roland H. Neureiter, 71, of Webster City, Iowa, died unexpectedly August 22, 2005, at his home. Son of Paul and Pearl Hessler Neureiter, Roland was born July 16, 1934, in Macomb, Illinois. At an early age, he moved with his family to Geneseo. He attended Geneseo schools and graduated from Geneseo Central School in 1952. As a boy growing up, he was always interested in cars and agriculture. In his teenage years, he worked with many farmers and fruit growers around Geneseo and often “hung out” with mechanics at local garages. A favorite pastime was working on ModelT engines. He even had several ModelT Fords that ran. After finishing high school, he was employed by U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana, as an apprentice electrician. He had also worked for a year on his aunt's farm in Montana. In 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He had a series of assignments around the United States, but much of his career was spent on aircraft maintenance in the Far East, especially Japan and Korea. During the Vietnam War, he served for an extended period in a completely unpublicized operation in Laos. He retired from the Air Force in 1975 with the rank of Master Sergeant and was the recipient of several service awards and decorations. After working for a number of years in the crop dusting business in Louisiana, he moved to Webster City. On September 18, 1993, he married Doris M. Pahl at the Country Relic Village's Little Saratoga Church. The couple resided on a farm 7 miles south of Webster City. Roland is survived by his wife, Doris; stepsons and step-daughter-in-law, Steve Pahl and John and Marcia Pahl, all of Webster City; step-grandchildren, Adam, Josi Rachel, Emily and Natalie Pahl; and step-great-grand-daughter, Kendzior Marie Morton. Also surviving are his brother and sister-in-law, Norman and Georgine Neureiter of Arlington, VA; sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Neil Seely of Rochester, NY; three nephews, Paul Neureiter, of Arlington, VA, Reid Neureiter, of Denver, CO, and Kirk Neureiter, of Tokyo, Japan and one niece, Tara Neureiter Goss, of Boston, MA. Roland had a great interest in motor sports, reading novels and spending time in the timber trimming trees and sawing firewood. He was a member of the Early Ford V-8 Club of America and the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum of Geneseo. A very kind and caring person, Roland would visit with anyone on any topic, current or past. He was always able to find humor in the worst of situations. Most of all he loved his grandchildren and enjoyed being a grandpa. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Roland's body was cremated, and a memorial service was held in Webster City, where interment will take place at the family's convenience.