Jack D. Neale

Jack Dennis Neale was born November 14, 1927, in Bearwood in the West Midlands of England to Dorie May Oakley Neale and Samuel Neale, and stepped into light in the wee hours of the morning Sept 21, 2015 at home in Fargo, North Dakota. He was 87, but very much wanted to live to 100.

As a child he attended George Dixon Elementary School in Birmingham, England then Chigwell House Preparatory School, he later attended Sebright Public School in Wolverly Worcestershire from which he graduated. After graduation he entered the Army with the Royal Worcesters Regiment. He served in the infantry followed by the Army Education Corp. After discharge from the Army he attended Durham University and studied political science and philosophy. Post graduation Jack worked for the Royal Bank of India in London, and then in 1956 moved to the U.S.A.

While in the States he received an MA in political science at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and studied at the University of Kentucky in political science. Following this Jack taught at Bowling Green University in Kentucky, and then worked as an editor for World Books Encyclopedia in Chicago.

He later moved to Esfahan, Iran and worked as an educator in western civilization and English. After the fall of the Shah of Iran, Jack moved back to the States and worked for Lutheran Social Services where he directed the immigration outreach program. He then moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and taught English to Saudi Air Force pilots. He retired in 1988 and made his home in Estepona, Spain and Bournemouth, England. In 2001 he returned to the U.S., where he has lived with his sister ever since.

Jack was an avid sportsman and played English football and rugby throughout preparatory school and university. He later turned his attention to tennis, and became a very accomplished amateur player and great fan of the game. After receiving a pacemaker in 1988, Jack could no longer play, but was a keen follower of the professional circuit and watched the big Open games at every chance.

Jack traveled widely, and was always fascinated with new discoveries from his journeys. He maintained a youthful enthusiasm for all the world, and loved learning about different cultures, language and food.

Jack, like his father before him, was the type of man the world needs more of: compassionate, thoughtful, kind, and sensitive to the needs of all; strong where strength was needed, and gentle and caring if the task called for it. He loved a good story and told a good tale. He had a heart of gold, and all that knew him loved him. Indeed love was the only way to know him. He just brought that out in all he touched.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents Dorie and Samuel, and younger sister Sheila. Jack leaves behind his loving sister Joy, 7 nieces and nephews: Sally, Jonathan, Peter, Margo, David, Evan and Roger, as well as 8 grand nieces and nephews and host of friends too many to count. He touched everyone who knew him deeply and genuinely. All fortunate enough to count him as friend will miss him beyond words, but will always carry a piece of his sunny heart.

In lieu of flowers donations should be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley and to The Village Family Service Center in Fargo.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Saturday, September 26 from 10AM to noon at the Wright Funeral Home, 605 2nd Avenue South, Moorhead, MN 56560.