Caroline Neely

Therese “Caroline” Neely was born September 28, 1929 in Charleston, South Carolina to Thomas and Beatrice (Reinig) Marks. She passed away peacefully Thursday, March 28, 2019 at Urbandale Health Care Center. She was 89 years old.

Caroline attended St. Patrick’s Grade School and graduated from Bishop England High School in Charleston, SC. She was an accomplished pianist and the organist for St. Patrick’s Church for many years. After they married, Caroline and her husband, Kenneth, lived in Dubuque, Iowa, becoming residents of Des Moines in 1960. They had seven children. Family was Caroline’s first love and constant focus. She enjoyed watching baseball and cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals. One of her favorite pastimes was eating out with family, and she enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July and St. Patrick’s Day. Caroline was a devoted homemaker, also holding various clerical and nursing jobs. Over the years, she often held two or three jobs at a time to care for her family. She was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters: Shelley (John) Bockert, Debbie (Bill) Smith, Teresa McGuire, Jolene (Doug) Kingery, and Jennifer (Jerry) Saathoff; daughter-in-law, Sharon Neely; 11 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; and many extended family and friends.

Caroline was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; sons, Michael Neely and David Neely; granddaughter, Megan Smith; parents, Thomas and Beatrice Marks; and her sisters, Delores Steward and Marie Schissler.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Special Olympics in loving memory of Caroline.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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