NEIL  WARNER , 92, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of rural Quimby, Iowa, passed away on Thursday morning, March 17, 2022 at Accura Healthcare in Aurelia, Iowa.

Funeral services will be on Monday, March 21 ^st , 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at the Quimby United Methodist Church in Quimby, Iowa. Pastor Barb Dinelli will officiate.   Luncheon to follow at the Quimby Community Center.  Burial will be in the Sunset View Cemetery at Washta, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Monday. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20th from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. with the family present from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Neil Warner was born to Charles and Neva (Wirick) Warner on December 16, 1929 in Edison, Nebraska.  He was christened William Neil, but went by Neil William all of his life.  In 1944, he moved with his parents to Iowa.  He graduated from Washta High School, and jumped right into starting his life as a farmer, his lifelong career.  He always felt blessed to be able to do what he loved for a living.  Neil joined the National Guard in 1947 and served for eight years.  He was ready to ship out to fight in Korea when the war ended.  In 1950, he met the love of his life, Arlene DeWitt, and they were married on June 8, 1952 in Washta, Iowa.  To this union two daughters, Holly and Kristine were born.

Neil always had a joy and zest for life and he enjoyed giving others trouble in his fun-loving way; a trait that often came back to haunt him.  He shared many laughs with his friends and with his family and had many stories to tell.  Second only to Arlene, his great love was farming.  He loved his cattle and he was always concerned about the weather and the land right up to the very end.  In retirement, Neil started his hobby of restoring classic cars and through the years restored many cars as well as a few tractors.  He enjoyed sharing his cars with his family and friends, driving them in parades and giving the grandkids rides.

Neil and Arlene were married for 69 wonderful years, and their marriage served as a beautiful example of love, joy, and commitment to their two daughters, six grandchildren and most everyone they came across.  There was never a moment of doubt of how deep his love and adoration for Arlene was.

He was a member of the Quimby United Methodist Church, where he showed his great love for God by serving on various committees through the years, and was always willing to step up and help with whatever was needed, even serving meals at community events into his 80s.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Neva Warner; sister Phyllis Meyer, her husband Clem; and brother Delmar Warner and his wife Lela.

He is survived by his wife Arlene, his daughters, Holly (Gary) Graham of Peterson, Iowa and Kris (George) Thiessen of Everly, Iowa; grandchildren Rebecca (Kevin) Goeken, Rochelle (Adam) Pfeifer, Preston (Angela) Graham, Whitney (Amy) Thiessen, Calvin (Krissy) Thiessen, and Clarissa (Nick) Bierstedt; 16 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

His presence in our lives will be greatly missed.