Neil Mesner

July 1, 1929 - March 26, 2022

David Neil Mesner, 92, died March 26, 2022 at Clark-Lindsey Village in Urbana, IL following a February 27 stroke. Memorial service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 14 at the Friends Church in Central City, NE. Burial of the cremains will be in Central City Cemetery. Neil was born July 1, 1929 near Central City to Raymond and Erma (Marsh) Mesner. He received his education in rural Merrick County schools through 8th grade and graduated from Central City High School in 1947. He attended Nebraska Central College until it closed in 1952. He received his agriculture degree from the University of Nebraska in 1960. Neil married Kay Roberts June 29, 1958 in Council Bluffs, IA. They lived in Lincoln, NE while Neil finished his bachelor’s degree; West Branch, IA where Neil served as the resident farmer at Scattergood (Friends) School; and Polk County, NE where he farmed and Kay taught in the Polk schools. In 1965 they returned to Merrick County where Neil farmed with his cousin, Don Reeves, until his retirement in the 1990’s. Following Kay’s death in 1999, Neil married Grayce Haworth September 9, 2001, and moved to Lacon, IL. Neil was a lifelong member of Central City Friends Church (Quakers), serving in multiple leadership positions in the local meeting as well as Nebraska Yearly Meeting (later Great Plains Yearly Meeting). Once he moved to Illinois, he joined Clear Creek Friends Meeting. He was active in many Quaker organizations including American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Friends United Meeting (FUM). He was also involved in Nebraskans for Peace. He was a longtime member of the Lone Tree Singers and enjoyed playing in Central City’s slow-pitch softball league for many years. In addition to his wife, Grayce, Neil is survived by his children: Miriam (Terry) Allison of Wilmore, KY, Brian Mesner of Central City, NE, and Cheryl (Paul) Mallonee of Wichita, KS; four grandchildren: Terry Allison Jr., Matthew Allison, Jocelyn Mallonee, and Tanner Mallonee; his step-children: Sharon Haworth (Peter Lasersohn) of Urbana, IL, David Haworth of Lacon, IL, and Margie Haworth-Davis (Scott) of Mahomet, IL. He is also survived by his siblings, Helen Casper of Elm Creek, NE, and Bill (Lil) Mesner of Nebraska City, NE; sisters-in-law Selma Mesner of Central City, NE, and Lois Mesner of Victoria, BC, Canada; step-grandchildren, Karly Kingen, Tyler Haworth, Nathan Lasersohn and Sam Davis, step-great-grandchildren Brendan Kingen and Coleson Rinehart; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kay Mesner; daughter-in-law, Pam Willits Mesner; his parents; and siblings Dale (Marian) Mesner, Warren Mesner, Elizabeth (Lou) Lindahl, Philip Mesner and brother-in-law Paul Casper. Memorials may go to the American Friends Service Committee or to Doctors Without Borders.