Neal J. McDermott, 81, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on November 3, 2024.

Visitation for Neal will be held from.3 to 8 p.m., on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at the Reiff Funeral Home in Epworth, Iowa, where a prayer service will be held at 2:30 p.m.  Visitation will also be held after 9 a.m. on day at the funeral home.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Neal will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Epworth, Iowa.  Burial will be held in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Epworth, Iowa with full military honors afforded by the Epworth American Legion post# 650.

Born September 11, 1943, son of Cyril and Viola (Delaney) McDermott, he was raised in Placid, Iowa.  Neal graduated from Epworth High School before earning his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts from Roosevelt College in Chicago. In 1968, Neal proudly enlisted in the Navy, serving a year in Vietnam. He married the love of his life, Catherine (Kate) Kluesner, in 1970, and they raised three wonderful children, creating a lifetime of memories together.

Neal taught at Bellevue High School for five years before spending 35 years as a manager at Flynn Ready Mix in Dubuque. He was a proud 53-year member of Post 650 Legion in Epworth, where he actively participated in local events.

A lifelong lover of baseball, Neal played and managed the Epworth semi-pro baseball team for many years, as well as coaching and managing numerous Dubuque County Legion teams. In 2015, he was recognized for his many contributions and was inducted into the Iowa American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame. He was an avid reader, loved cooking for his family, watching the Chicago Cubs and Hawkeyes, and winning at cards. Above all, he took great pride in being a grandpa, cherishing every moment spent with his eight grandchildren.

Neal is survived by his wife, Kate; his three children, Matt (Jodie) McDermott, Jed McDermott (Felicia Moss), and Megan (Josh) Lucas; and eight grandchildren: Mollie, Ellie, Colin, and Cloie McDermott; Jack and Eli McDermott; and Maddie and Savannah Lucas. He is also survived by his siblings, Dorance (Verna) McDermott, Phyllis (Darris) Goerdt, and Julie Casey, as well as brothers and sisters-in-law Helen (Donnie) Nauman, Mary (Stan) Schueller, Linda (Paul) Burds, Paul (Joyce) Kluesner, Mike (Karen) Kluesner, John Smith, and Marianne Burell.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Cyril and Viola McDermott; his mother and father-in-law, Clarence and Stella Kluesner; his sister, Lois Smith; his sister, Mary Catherine McDermott (in infancy); his brother, Dennis McDermott; his brother-in-law, Donnie Casey; and his sister-in-law, Doris (Jerry) Lahey.

An Online video tribute may be viewed and online condolences sent to the family at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com

The family would like to thank the VA, Hospice of Dubuque and Home Instead especially, Erin Ulbrich.