Paul "Dave" McNeel

On November 22, 2024, my beloved one, Dave entered into the presence of his Heavenly Father. He is now absent from the body and face to face with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. My love and I journeyed hand in hand through this world; And when we thought the winding path would end, our Savior reached forth His Hand to meet love there. And drawing us together on a new way, His Spirit taught our faith to look beyond life’s bend, Where together, we will walk and love and live with him FOREVERMORE! Born March 24, 1943, to Ben and Alma Dean McNeel, Paul David, or “Dave”, was the youngest of two sisters and a brother growing up together in Charleston, Illinois. At age eleven, Dave trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior. However, it was not until later in his life, that Dave began a spiritual journey of faith that would lead him to a meaningful love relationship with his Heavenly Father, his Savior and with family and friends. McNeel family photos tell the story of love, fun, and friendship Dave shared with sisters, Sue and Karen, his brother Larry and with his mom and dad. Later, after the McNeel family moved to Colorado, Dave would meet and marry his soul-partner, Linda, with whom he would proudly bear sons, David and Greg. Dave entered the Air Force in 1966. After his training in Florida, he served as aerial photographer with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and the Jolly Green Giants, performing helicopter rescues of downed pilots in North Vietnam. However, Dave’s journey is harms way kept him close to his Lord and Savior and prepared him for his return home to his family. Those military years also included working together with the Navigator’s, a Christian ministry at Elgin AFB, Florida where Paul David, Jr. was born. After discharge from the military, Dave’s desire to serve the Lord led him to Western Bible College and to Dallas Theological Seminary. Those years included a short-term missionary trip to Hanson Christin Center in Okinawa, Japan to serve with Overseas Christian Servicemen’s Center Ministry, now known as Cadence International. However, God’s plan would soon lead Dave on a different, but very important mission. When Gregory was diagnosed with an incurable genetic disease causing progressive and profound, mental and physical retardation, Dave’s journey of faith turned to a full-time mission of caring for his family. God blessed Dave’s trucking career with financial support for family and medical needs. Later, we watched in awe as God delivered Greg from his temporal suffering here, into eternal joy with his Savior in heaven. Dave proudly saw his eldest son and namesake, Paul David, Jr. believe in Christ for salvation at an early age and continue to trust his Savior through schooling, the Gulf War and marriage to his beloved, Mary. The words of an old hymn Dave and Linda often sang together in the early days of their spiritual walk together express the eternal celebration of Christ’s born again ones, brought home at the end of life’s journey to sing praises together with Him forevermore! Someday life’s journey will be o’er; and I shall reach that distant shore; I’ll sing while entering heaven’s door: Jesus led me all the way. If God should let me there review the winding paths of earth I knew, It will be proven clear and true, Jesus led me all the way. Jesus led me all the way; led me step by step each day. I will tell the saints and angels as I lay my burdens down: JESUS LED ME ALL THE WAY!

Paul "Dave" McNeel

March 24, 1943 - November 22, 2024