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Deene Harvey Neilan

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Deene Harvey Neilan

Birth	:	10 Mar 1935 New Underwood, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	29 Jan 2014 San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA
Burial	:	Graceland Cemetery, Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate	:	43.1847000, -99.3022003
Inscription	:	CDR US NAVY VIETNAM
Description	:	Harvey Deene Neilan passed away in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 29th, 2014 after a brief illness. His brother Geary was at his side. Deene was born on March 10, 1935 to Paul and Lorna Neilan in New Underwood, South Dakota. He was the first of their nine children. He grew up in Burke, S.D. and graduated from Burke High School in 1953. Deene excelled in academics and athletics during his high school years. He achieved many accolades in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was awarded an athletic scholarship to play football at the University of... Read More	Harvey Deene Neilan passed away in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 29th, 2014 after a brief illness. His brother Geary was at his side. Deene was born on March 10, 1935 to Paul and Lorna Neilan in New Underwood, South Dakota. He was the first of their nine children. He grew up in Burke, S.D. and graduated from Burke High School in 1953. Deene excelled in academics and athletics during his high school years. He achieved many accolades in football, basketball, track and baseball. He was awarded an athletic scholarship to play football at the University of South Dakota and pursue a college degree. Deene joined the military R.O.T.C. program while in college and upon graduation in 1957, he began his career with the U.S. Navy. He completed the officers candidate program and then the naval flight training academy to become a commissioned officer and a naval aviation pilot. Deene had told his grandson recently, "I really wanted to be a jet pilot when I joined the Navy "but when I finally saw the jets I wanted to fly had only one engine. With thoughts if it was on fire, I changed my mind and focused my training on the bigger, turbo-propelled aircraft with multiple engines. They were slower but much safer!" In 1958 Deene married his hometown sweetheart, Linda Kelso of Burke, S.D and she joined him for the next 20 years on his deployments and training assignments that took them to a number of Naval Air Stations around the U.S. Together they had three sons, Troy born in 1960 in Pensacola, FL, Tod born in 1961 in Coronado, CA, and Trace born in 1966 in Corpus Christi, TX. In 1967, Deene was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Hornet and had multiple deployments to the western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea during the Vietnam War. He flew S-2 Seahawk aircraft off the deck on anti-submarine patrols and long range reconnaissance missions. Deene was promoted to the rank of Commander and become a squadron leader for VP-65 at Naval Air Station Pt.Mugu, CA in 1971. He preferred this land-based squadron that flew bigger P-2 and P-3 Orion aircraft on long range anti-submarine patrols. He finished his naval career stationed in Washington D.C. at the Pentagon and retired in 1977. Deene received many service medals, commendations, and awards throughout his twenty years of service in the U.S. Navy. After retiring from the Navy, Deene continued flying as a contract pilot for various public and private agencies in the Midwest through the early 1980's and finally retired his pilot's wings for good in 1985. He moved to San Antonio, Texas were he enjoyed the warmer climate and found an active group of retirees to play racquetball and softball with. He also had the good fortune to meet Rae Delmege there and they spent the next ten years together making up for a lifetime apart, traveling to each other's family gatherings, and going to softball tournaments (Rae was Deene's biggest fan and he of course was trying to impress her with his athletic ability. Rae passed away in 2008. Deene is survived by his three sons. He is also survived by his siblings Pauline, Nathan, Ann, Etta, Geary, Peggy, and Sandra Kay. Deene was preceded in death by his sister Lornadel, his brother Michael, and his parents. Deene's final wishes were to spread his ashes in the Pacific Ocean off the beach where he spent countless days watching his grandchildren and sons'play in the sand and surf and drinking his favorite kind of beer, cold. A memorial service and celebration of Deene's life was held on Feb.22 at Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard, CA.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Deene Harvey Neilan's memorial?
Deene Harvey Neilan's memorial is located at: Graceland Cemetery, Burke, Gregory County, USA.
When did Deene Harvey Neilan death?
Deene Harvey Neilan death on 29 Jan 2014 in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Deene Harvey Neilan's memorial?
Latitude: 43.1847000
Longitude: -99.3022003

Family Members:

Parent

Paul Harvey Neilan

(1909 - 1970)

Lorna Parker Statlenberg Neilan

(1912 - 1980)

Siblings

Lornadel Neilan

(1940 - 1944)

Michael A. “Mike” Neilan

(1948 - 1967)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Graceland Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1847000, -99.3022003

2. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1507988, -99.2913971

3. Johnson Family Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1755028, -99.2228660

4. Gregory County Home Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1253014, -99.2866974

5. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2202988, -99.4338989

6. Sully Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2770000, -99.2380000

7. Herrick Cemetery
Herrick, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1110000, -99.1970000

8. Petersen Cemetery
Burke, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2539558, -99.1770172

9. IOOF Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2380000, -99.4480000

10. Czech National Cemetery
Gregory, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2118988, -99.4636002

11. Peace Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0816994, -99.3946991

12. Lucas Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2991560, -99.2189780

13. Lucas Catholic Cemetery
Lucas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3005981, -99.2193985

14. Evangelical Zion Lutheran Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.1401970, -99.5147400

15. Dallas Hillview Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2271996, -99.5310974

16. Saint Augustine Catholic Cemetery
Dallas, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2263940, -99.5334467

17. Ponca Creek UCC Cemetery
Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0451800, -99.1491700

18. Milks Camp Episcopal Cemetery
Saint Charles, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0378199, -99.1552354

19. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Jamison, Keya Paha County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9977989, -99.3139038

20. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Paxton, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0823490, -99.5336010

21. Spotted Tail Cemetery
Jamison, Keya Paha County, USA
Coordinate: 42.9799995, -99.3324966

22. Sutton Family Cemetery
Bonesteel, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.2329900, -99.0216200

23. Saint Francis Xavier Cemetery
Saint Charles, Gregory County, USA
Coordinate: 43.0094337, -99.1375152

24. Oldham Cemetery
Platte, Charles Mix County, USA
Coordinate: 43.3001500, -99.0253800