Obit of Neill Jr, Robert (n400) - Unknown County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 18 Aug 2004 Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ROBERT NEILL JR. Published on June 2, 2000 The Santa Rosa Press Democratt Robert d. jr., an avid fisherman who loved fly casting in the rivers of northern california, lost his battle with cancer may 25. He died in Santa Rosa at age 65. "He always loved fishing in general," said his wife, jean, of santa rosa. "He took up fly fishing in the last 10 years or so and then gave up all other fishing because he loved fly fishing so much. He practiced catch- and-release, not keeping anything he caught because he wanted to preserve the fishery." Neill fished the Russian River, the Eel River and various other locations in Northern California. He also traveled to Mexico and the Bahamas to practice fly casting in foreign waters. "He was an expert fly fisherman," said longtime friend Bob Nauheim, who operates Fishing International, the Santa Rosa company through which Neill booked his fishing trips to other locales. Since his death, buddies with the Russian River Fly Casters have been recalling their adventures with Neil,l said his wife. "Almost everyone has a funny story to tell about Bob," she said. "He was a person who would try anything." Born in Oklahoma, he moved with his family to Southern California in 1946 but soon settled in northern Sonoma County. He graduated from Geyserville High School and Sonoma State University, earning a bachelor's degree in history. A Korean War veteran, Neill was a sonar operator in the Navy and later served in the Air Force as a member of the Air Police. He was an insurance underwriter for State Farm Insurance for more than 30 years. During retirement, he worked part time at Western Angler, a fly fishing shop in Santa Rosa. He was president and a former board member of the Russian River Fly Casters and a member of the Federation of Fly Fishers, the California Trout Association and Trout Unlimited. He also was a past commander of Theodore Roosevelt Post 21, American Legion, a member of the American Legion's Forty/8 honor group, and served as a volunteer at the legion's annual flea market at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sons, Gregory Neill of Odessa, Texas, and Jeffrey Neill of Orlando, Fla.; his stepson, Paul Indelicato of San Leandro; his brother, Bill Neill of Portland, Ore.; his sister, Chrie Tomsick of Tiburon; one grandchild; two nieces and a nephew. Services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Eggen and Lance Mortuary, 1540 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa. Members of American Legion Post 21 will officiate. Memorial contributions may be sent to the United Anglers of Casa Grande High School, 333 Casa Grande Road, Petaluma 94954. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Unknown County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/okstate.html