Neal S. Anderson, 51, of Lees Summit, Mo passed peacefully on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 after a hard-fought battle with that most hated and formidable Cancer.
Neal never met a stranger. With an affable nature, keen wit, boyish charm and a generous heart, it is no hyperbole to say that he made friends with every handshake or salutation.
Born in 1968, Neal grew up in Raytown and graduated Raytown High School in 1987. Throughout his formative years Neal was heavily invested in the Scouts of tribe Mic-o-Say, rising to Eagle Scout and then continuing on to Keeper of the Wampum. Neal performed many duties at the Bartle scout reservation camps from 1984 through 1995 and enjoyed passing along traditions to the younger members at Camp, attending whenever time allowed up until life eventually pulled him away.
Following graduation from High School, Neal left home and traveled to Columbia, Missouri to attend the University of Missouri (M-I-Z!), where he joined the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Beta Epsilon chapter. It is uncertain if this is where he first found his love of hops and barley, but what is certain is that this is where he first began to dedicate himself to its happy pursuit and carefully harbored and nurtured a secret desire to one day create the perfect beer…and then drink it. But he never let that pursuit interfere with his studies and in December of 1993 he obtained a BA in Sociology and, not satisfied with that, he studied for two more years to graduate with a Masters in Public Administration in December of 1995 with Pi Alpha Alpha honors. Following his graduation from MU, Neal worked for and made numerous friends at Fortis Benefits, Applebee’s, Hallmark, Teva, and finally Regallo/RX. Many of those friends still called and met for gatherings to his final days (except during the Covid-19 lockdown, of course, where such gatherings happened on video due to the social distancing and his failing health). Neal had a love and admiration of nature and camping throughout his unnaturally shortened life. When he fell in love with a fellow Raytownian, Kimberly Brown, he began to travel with her family and to stay in the trailers and tents they had at the beautiful and serene Pomme De Terre Lake nestled gently in the Ozark River Basin. Eventually Neal placed his own trailer and boat on their campground where he passed on as many traditions of his Scout Tribe as he could without breaking any sacred trusts. At Berryland RV Park Neal spent many nights around the fire pit with his relatives and Berryland family telling stories, listening to music, and counting many satellites and meteors in the clear night sky or setting his app for warning of a rare glimpse of the the ISS as it passed over, or calling dozens of owls to our campsite with recordings he’d found on the internet.
After their marriage in 1996, Neal and Kim bought his grandmother’s Kansas City house and the couple moved in until plans could be finalized on their future, modern home. In May of 2002 Neal and Kim moved into that new home in Lees Summit to begin their family, but it wasn’t immediately the family they had imagined as they developed a kinship with and eventually fell in love with their new neighbors the entire cul-de-sac became one extended family even before their two daughters entered the scene. With room to work and a building knowledge of the art, Neal became an journeyman beer-maker. He was also a studied ‘taste-tester’ and connoisseur who, on his vacations, would travel the country looking for the best beers to bring back to share with his friends and beloved neighbors who, in turn, spent many nights sampling his creations far later than they had planned. Although many would regret such gatherings the next morning, few could refuse the possibilities of his invites offered for great company, and maybe even better beer. Or maybe it was the other way around.
Neal was also a Cheer Dad and supporter for both of his girls at varying times in their lives. He always found time to help out when he could, as treasurer of the booster club for Spirit Zone and anything else he could up until his diagnosis. And while he enjoyed the cheer competitions and taking videos for them, his greatest joy was designing his van for the trunk-or-treat.
It must be mentioned that Neal felt so very blessed that he was favored to see the Royals win the World Series and the Chiefs win the Super Bowl all within the last few years of his life. It cannot be overstated how much he had wanted this, how long he had been hoping for and dreaming of these two things. He was truly joyful that he got to enjoy both of these events surrounded by his family.
Neal loved to boat, fish and drink beer with newly met friends, old friends and neighbors, or anyone else as long as it was by a roaring fire. And he also enjoyed tickling everyone’s taste buds with his culinary delights as often as he could. On the stove, grille or the smoker, he was the best of us all. The fumes from his creations and a few inviting words would gather anyone around for a meal. For years to come, many palates and stomachs will complain at the absence of his fine cuisine. And at that point, tears will be shed again. Toasts will once more be made in his honor.
When lounging on his couch, Neal would watch the many car and house restoration shows that had built up on the DVR. On the colder or rainier nights, he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends playing table-top games. Somehow even with everything else that occupied him in this life, Neal found time for yet one more hobby. He would hunt for exotic materials out in the world and online and order the perfect samples which he would then shape and polish and core to make beautiful custom-crafted pens, letter openers and knives. This is what he had planned for his retirement and he was already a master craftsman.
Neal was preceded in death by his mother Pearl Darlene (Bowman)Anderson. He leaves behind his wife of 23 years(partner of 31 years) Kimberly S. Anderson(Brown), two children, Morgan Elizabeth and Sydney Peyton Anderson; one brother Mark Anderson; a sister Laura Anderson and her husband Bill Hlavacek and their son Carson; His father Dave Anderson and his wife Cathy; his aunt Joyce Neff, her son Todd, son Phil and wife Kristy, their two children Ella and Alex; three Brothers-in-Law, Tim, J.B. and Jeff Brown, Jeff’s wife Chris and their children; Heather, and Brandon and his wife Ali and their two children Hunter and Quinn. He also leaves saddened the thousands of friends whom only a special soul like his can touch. No poem or prayer can fill the void, erase his loss, or explain the injustice; The world is less without him here.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441