In Memory of Neil E. Mendenhall

This post is in memory of my Uncle Neil, Neil E. Mendenhall

Neil was born on 06 Oct 1947 in Dayton, Ohio, the 3rd of 4 children to Harold Earl Mendenhall (1916-1989) and Helen Ruth Seaver (1923-1981). 

I am in love with this picture! I'd say he was probably about 3 in this picture? So, this would be about 1950

Neil with his 3 siblings and grandparents (he's the one who looks like he's eating an apple)

Neil served in the US Army as a Specialist Technician Fifth Grade in Vietnam 

Neil passed away on 06 Dec 2019 in Grapevine, Texas after suffering from blood clots that resulted in numerous heart attacks. He was a passionate man of the Lord and loved his family and his work. He leaves behind a loving wife, 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, 2 sisters and a brother.

Neil's inurnment took place on Monday, Dec 16 at the Dallas Fort-Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.

                             

Cletus Jeckering Learning Center

The Cletus Jeckering Learning Center!

On August 20, 2019, the Cletus Jeckering Learning Center at Saint Adalbert Catholic School opened in Cleveland, Ohio. It's a 13,000 square foot addition to the Catholic School. A large portion of funds were donated by Thomas and Virginia Jeckering, my 1st cousin, 2nd removed. 

The building is named after Thomas' father.

Cletus J. Jeckering

b. 07 Aug 1902 in Dayton, Ohio

d. 19 Mar 1996 in Butler County, Ohio

Cletus was the 2nd out of 7 children born to Joseph Herman Jeckering and his wife Rose Horn. Cletus married Ethel Beatrice Alcock and they had 5 children- James, Robert, Marilyn, Infant daughter, and Thomas. 

EJ Mendenhall Update

On May 26, 2014, I wrote a blog post- my 3rd week of 52 Ancestors- on EJ Mendenhall- my 6th Cousin, 5x Removed. You can read it Here.

After researching EJ, I was excited to discover that he died and was buried in Prescott, Arizona. This was cool because, even though I live in Fort Collins, Colorado now, I grew up in Prescott. 

This last week, my family and I vacation to Arizona, our first time there in two years. While we were there, we stayed in Prescott, but visited many places- Jerome, Grand Canyon, Florence, Phoenix, and of course- the cemetery where EJ was buried- Arizona Pioneers' Home Cemetery. 

I was so excited to visit EJ's resting place, but after finding it, I was disappointed to find that he had no gravemarker. I took a couple of pictures: 

There were two separate place of burial- on the side of the mountain were the older ones where EJ was buried (a lot with no gravestones, no flowers, ground VERY unkempt) and then one that was for newer burials (VERY nice looking). I understand that EJ was probably very poor when he died and both his death certificate and the Pioneers' Home said he had no family- so that's probably why he had no gravestone, but just the fact that the grounds are so poorly maintained...makes me sad.

This is the view from the top of the cemetery- very pretty :) 

EJ Mendenhall- Row K, Grave 11

This is my son in the middle of the cemetery- browsing while my husband and I were looking for EJ's gravesite.

This is where he was buried- a bunch of rocks are in the spot of a gravestone. 

In Memory of Robert C. "Bob" Jeckering

This past Wednesday, my 1st Cousin, 2x Removed passed away- 

Robert Cletus "Bob" Jeckering (1934-2015)

I first discovered Robert when I was researching my dad and grandfather's high school- Chaminade Catholic High School in Dayton, Ohio. On the school's website, you can browse through the past yearbooks so I looked up all the names in my family that I could find and Robert was one of them. I blogged about it back in August 2014: 
you can read that blog post Here.

Bob graduated from Chaminade in 1952 at the age of 18. He married and they had 6 children. 


Bobs funeral was held this last Saturday, September 26 with a burial at Calvary Cemetery- among many other family members of mine. 

Obituary: 

Obiturary from Newcomer Funeral Home

In Memory of 

Robert C. "Bob" Jeckering

1934-2015

Robert C. Jeckering, age 81, of Dayton, passed away on Wednesday, Septermber 23, 2015.

Bob worked at White Villa for 41 years. He was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus.

Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Jeckering.

He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Shirley Jeckering; children, Terry (Charlie Kucharski), Paul (Lynda) Jeckering, Barbara Jeckering and Dan (Misty) Jeckering; grandchildren, Catherine, Stephen, Quinn, Olivia, and Zach; brother, Tom (Ginny) Jeckering; and sister, Marilyn Monnin.

The family will receive friends on Friday, September 25, 2015 from 6-8pm at Newcomer Funeral Home North Chapel (4104 Needmore Rd, Dayton, OH 45424). A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 10am at St. Henry's Catholic Church (6696 N. Springboro Pike, Dayton, OH 45449). Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cure Alzheimer's Fund (http://app/etapestry.com/hosted/CureAlzFund/OnlineDonation/html).