William R. “Bill” Neumann, 78, of Vero Beach, passed away on Jan. 30, 2015.
He is survived by his wife Carol; son Brian (Jody) of Aurora, Colo.; daughters Cathy (Mike) Mastroianna of Thornton, Colo., and Christy Kammer of Parker, Colo.; eight grandchildren Benjamin, Chloe, Josiah, Esther, Kara, Jarron, Heidi, Bryanna; eight great-grandchildren, Isabella, Alizea, Julia, Jarron, Jr., Demetrius, Sophia, Leah and Ella of the Denver area; sisters Barbara (Ed) Dowell of North Platte, Neb., and Sandy (Jim) Reisinger of Loveland, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his parents Rudolph and Bernadine Neumann and his son Mitchell Scott Neumann.
As a child, Neumann and his mother and father and two sisters, Barbara and Sandy, moved to Laramie, Wyo., and eventually moved to McCook, Neb. He attended McCook High School and was a member of the band and a member of the football team. He graduated from McCook High School in 1954 and joined the Army Paratroopers shortly thereafter. He graduated from the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Kent. He served in Germany with the 11th Airborne Division and was honorably discharged, Jan. 20, 1958.
Neumann attended and graduated from McCook Junior College and at that time, met his future wife, Carol. He and Carol were married in McCook, Neb., on Aug. 16, 1959.
In the early 1960s they moved to Lincoln, Neb., where Neumann attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska. They then moved to Virginia Beach, Va., where he worked for IT&T and eventually moved back to Denver where he was employed by Martin Marietta in the Aerospace division and was part of the Space Shuttle Program. While in Colorado, he and Carol raised three children: son Brian and twin daughters, Cathy and Christy.
Neumann and Carol eventually moved to Washington D.C., and were part of a Systems Engineering Integration Contract to update the air traffic control systems throughout the United States.
They retired to Florida and lived for a time in the Pantherwoods/Meadowood Golf Course community in Fort Pierce. Due to Neumann’s illness (COPD) he had to give up golf and in 2005 they moved to their present home in the Vineyard in Vero Beach.
Neumann’s children were his first priority. He loved them deeply and was always ready to give them financial guidance and support whenever they needed it. He also loved dabbling in the stock market and with his analytical mind he became quite proficient.
He and Carol have been members of Grace Baptist Church for the past 12 years. Neumann loved the Lord and during his illness he placed his trust in the Lord completely. He was such a trooper and I know that only with God at his side was he able to endure the suffering he has had to go through these past several years.
Carol says she feels so fortunate to have been blessed with this wonderful man, her soul mate, for the past 55 years. He made sure they were financially secure and because of his wonderful analytical mind his decisions were safe and always well thought out. Carol said he was her best friend and pal. They traveled and loved it and lived life to its fullest. Carol said she loved his sense of humor. That is how he acquired the nickname, (affectionately known by all), “Bad Billy.” He earned it!
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, at Grace Baptist Church, Vero Beach. Strunk Funeral Home of Vero Beach is entrusted with arrangements; http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com.