Neva D. Blankenship

Neva D, Blankenship, 80, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 20, 2026, at UnityPoint Health - Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. Cremation rights have been accorded. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. Inurnment will take place at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. At the conclusion of the services everyone is invited to the church fellowship hall where light refreshments will be served. 

Neva was born on November 18th, 1945 in Eldora, Iowa. She was a devoted daughter of John and Gladys (Meester) Van Deest. Neva was raised in Holland until her parents moved to the farm west of Grundy Center. She graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1964.

Neva worked many years for the U.S. government in Washington D.C., Colorado, and Germany. She returned to her home area and worked her final years at Walmart in Tennessee and Waterloo, Iowa.

Neva is survived by her brother, Donald (Amy), sister, Ardi (Dave) Cade, son Vincent, and daughter Vanessa. She is further survived by her nieces and nephew plus many cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Norman and sister-in-law Joyce.