Obituary of Robert E. Neill

Orrington and Brewer – Robert E. Neill, 89, husband of the late Mary L. “Mary Lou” Neill, died March 12, 2019, at his home with his family at his side. He was born March 18, 1929, in Walthill, Nebraska, the son of George T. and Laura R. (Kessinger) Neill.

Bob served in the Air Force and was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor where he met his wife Mary Lou, who was a nursing student at Eastern Maine General Hospital. After a brief return to the Midwest after they married, they moved back to Maine. He joined the Maine Air National Guard and retired from the Guard as a Senior Chief Master Sargent after 35 years of service. After his retirement, he worked part-time as a security guard at the Bucksport paper mill. He was a long-time communicant of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Teresa’s Catholic Church. He enjoyed traveling around the country with his wife and friends, and spending time at his summer home on Toddy Pond and winter months in Florida.  He found great joy in his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Bob was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Mary Lou, in 2016. He is survived by his five children, Jane Neill and her husband Gregory Curfman, Karen Mc Donald, Laurie Knowles and her husband Vaughn, Nancy White and her husband Michael, Robert and his wife Donna;  nine grandchildren, Adam Knowles, Erin Twitchell, Laura McDonald, David McDonald, Phillip White, Amanda Hayes, Geoffrey Curfman, Joel Neill and Abby Neill, and nine great grandchildren, with another on the way in July; one brother, Thomas Neill and his wife, Barbara; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at St. paul the Apostle Parish, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 531 North Main St., Brewer.  A time of friendship and refreshments will be held immediately following the Mass in the church center.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bangor Humane Society (https://bangorhumane.org). We wish to thank Beacon Hospice for the care he received from them in his final days and for their assistance in making him comfortable in his home before his passing.

Burial with military honors will be at the Woodlawn Cemetery, Brewer at a later date. Arrangements by Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 69 State St., Brewer. Messages and memories may be shared with his family at kileyandfoley.com.