Neil OKones Jr.

Neil OKones Jr., 88, of Wellsburg, Iowa, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center, Iowa, surrounded by his family. A visitation will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in rural Wellsburg. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will take place at the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Cemetery. A time of fellowship where lunch will be served will be held at the Community Building in Wellsburg following the burial. In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to the family. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff of St. Croix Hospice and Grundy County Memorial Hospital for the exceptional care, compassion, and support provided to the family.

Neil was born February 10, 1938, at the home of his parents Corneilus (Neil Sr) and Matilda (Sietsema) OKones in Wellsburg. He was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart and best friend Janice Etjen on July 19th, 1957. Neil and Janice had three children: Jeff, Susan, and Jacalyn. Of all Neil’s accomplishments, his life with his wife and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was his pride and joy.

Neil will be remembered as always having made time for his family however they needed him to. He was the man they could call when they needed to plumb a sink, learn how to shoot a jump shot, choose the right words to ask for a promotion or apologize to a friend, or ask for a ride home from school. He made sure to be at every choir recital, sporting event, and school play that his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren participated in. He leaves a sterling example of how one should conduct themselves as a father, grandfather, and OPA

He was a lifelong educator who served as a science teacher and girls basketball coach for the Dows Community School and North Tama School District, principal for the North Tama School District, and returned to his hometown as the Wellsburg School District superintendent, guiding the community through mergers with the Steamboat Rock School District, and later with the Ackley Geneva School District. His leadership united communities and saw Wellsburg maintain an operational school building for decades to come.

Neil gave his time freely to his community and frequently volunteered with many community organizations including the Traer Ambulance, the Lions Club, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Traer and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wellsburg, People’s Savings Bank, and the Wellsburg Community Betterment Committee where he helped to spearhead the Little Cougar Playhouse Daycare. Sport and competition were cornerstones of Neil’s life. He believed that through practicing and studying a sport and measuring your progress in these endeavors through competition, a person could develop the character traits that he believed were foundational to leading a decent life. These character traits included discipline, perseverance, and humility. For Neil, music wasn't just a background noise; it was his deepest language. When words failed, he always had a song to capture the moment. Neil thoroughly enjoyed watching and discussing basketball and football - especially if one of his children or grandchildren were playing! Basketball, especially six on six, held a special place in his heart. He and Jan were season ticket holders for both Iowa State basketball and football and hosted many tailgates with family and friends.

Neil was also an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, and spent many days with his, brother, his children, and his grandchildren hunting, trapping, fishing, and gardening and he was skilled at all these endeavors.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janice; his three children, Jeffery (Marsha) Okones of Conrad, Iowa, Susan (Brian) Kucera of Ames, Iowa, and Jacalyn (John) McKenzie of Riverside, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Jake (Marie) Okones, Jenessa (Brett) Bengen, Nicole (Joe) Harvey, Bryant (Julie) Kucera, Austin (Claire) Jaspers, Jay (Mikayla) Jaspers, and Anna (Andrew) Goble; and twelve great-grandchildren: Calvin and Grant Okones; Brock, Avery, and Payton Bengen; Jordan and Neilan Harvey; Kennedy and Bennett Kucera; Alice Jaspers; and Jack and Karter Jaspers; his sister, Thelma Ruter of Wellsburg, Iowa; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Lee and Glenda Okones, and his brother-in-law, Gene Ruter.