Neil Samuel Jeske

Neil Samuel Jeske, 79, a longtime resident of the Wenatchee Valley passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 23, 2018 at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee with his sons Gary and Jared by his side.
He was born April 13, 1938 at Oakland, California. Neil was raised in the Wenatchee Valley with his brother John by parents Dan and Lydia (Knecht) Jeske. In school, Neil played basketball and baseball, was vice-president of the student body and Letterman’s Club; graduating from Peshastin High School in 1956.
In 1961, Neil joined the U.S. Army where he was awarded the Sharpshooter award. He received his honorable discharge in 1967. On Oct. 26, 1963, he married Galyn Jones. Neil worked in the fruit industry driving straddle carrier for Blue Bird and eventually worked his way to becoming a Washington State Fruit and Produce Inspector working from the Basin to as far away as Oroville. He retired as the district manager after 30 plus years. On June 5, 1976, Neil married Jan Homad and took on his most challenging career; that of being a father to Jan’s two boys, Gary and Jared. Neil’s passion for sports was fueled by these two boys. He never missed a sporting event and was always there to encourage them to never give up and always do your best. An encouragement that follows them to this very day. On March 6, 1999, Neil married Glenda Cheatham Nierman and added two more boys to his family; Willie and Brent. This union allowed Neal’s other passion to be set in motion and that was to travel. He loved traveling to Reno and Las Vegas where he would walk the strip from one end to the other where he must have walked thousands of miles over the years. He loved long road trips with no set agenda and it seemed that no matter where he was he always ran into someone he knew. Neil enjoyed following the Mariners and Seahawks, occasionally traveling to Seattle by motorcycle to catch a game. Neil also loved going to lunch at the Country Inn with his best friend Bill Morrison.
Neil is survived by his first two sons, Gary Homad of East Wenatchee and Jared (Jen) Homad of Waterville, his second two sons, Willie (Trish) Nierman of Peshastin and Brent (Nikki) Nierman of Ellensburg; one brother, John (Patricia) Jeske of Dallas, Oregon and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Dan and Lydia Jeske.
A memorial service of commemoration to celebrate the life of Neil Samuel Jeske will be held Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Eastmont Baptist Church with Pastor Steve Brewer officiating. Memorials may be made in Neil’s name to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society.
Ward’s Funeral Chapel Leavenworth is in charge of the arrangements.