Leonard Nealis

Leonard Martin Eugene Nealis passed away on Friday, April 25, 2008, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, at the age of 88. He was born May 22, 1919, near Mulhall, Oklahoma, to Sam and Carrie Nealis. Both of his parents were in the 1889 Land Run as teenagers. Leonard was educated in country schools until he moved to live with his sister, Laura Short, in Bartlesville in 1932. After spending a year in Idaho with family, he graduated from Bartlesville High School in 1938, and became a salesman at Piper Furniture Company. In September, 1941, he enlisted in the Army. He trained as a flight engineer and gunner in the Army Air Force and was assigned to the 546th Squadron, 384th Bombardment Group when it was formed in Boise, Idaho. He left for overseas duty on his birthday in 1943. Between June 22 and December 6, 1943, he flew 25 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe as a Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner, primarily in the B17-F "Little America". Following that, he taught advanced gunnery at The Wash, in eastern England. In February 1944, he returned to the States, finishing the war primarily at Liberal Army Air Force Base, Kansas, in charge of the radio room. After the war, he returned to Piper Furniture Company as a salesman and assistant manager. In February 1946, he met his wife-to-be, Edith Mae Romig. On July 21, 1946, they began 61 years of marriage. In the mid-1950s, he became manager of Bartlesville Electric Company. When that store closed in 1976, he became a salesman at TECO Home Appliances until he retired in 1982. He enjoyed retirement, fishing, his grandkids, and living at Tallgrass Estates for over two years. He has been a member of East Cross United Methodist Church and a Mason for over 40 years, and was a devoted Christian. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and six sisters, including Verna Short of Bartlesville and Laura Short Mathews of Ramona. He is survived by his wife, Edith, and his son, Gary, of Bartlesville; his daughter, Peggy Burner, her husband, Steve, and three grandchildren, Emily, Elizabeth, and Scott Burner, all of Oklahoma City; his nieces Carol Truman and Donna McDonald of Bartlesville; and many other relatives. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, April 29, at East Cross United Methodist Church, with burial following at Memorial Park Cemetery. Military burial rites will be accorded Mr. Nealis by the James T. Teel, Post 105 of the American Legion. Arrangements are under the direction of Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com. In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to East Cross United Methodist Church, 820 SE Madison Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74006.

Service Details

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 2:00pm, East Cross United Methodist Church

Interment Details

Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville