Obituary of Elizabeth Helen (Neal) Neitz

 

Elizabeth Helen (Neal) Neitz, 81, died on Friday, February 9, 2024, at her home in West Melbourne, FL, following a short and intense fight against cancer. Her husband, sons and brother were with her during her final days

 

Elizabeth and Don Neitz observed their 60^th wedding anniversary on February 8, with a small party at her bedside.

 

She was born on March 1, 1942, to Helen Frances Smith Neal and Robert Miller Neal in Madison, WI. Elizabeth grew up in Columbia, MO, where she graduated from University High School. She earned an associate’s degree from William Woods College in Fulton, MO, and a master’s degree in English from Florida Atlantic University.  

 

Elizabeth and Donald Neitz married on Feb. 8, 1964, in Odell, IL. A year later they moved to West Palm Beach, FL, where they lived until moving in 2007 to West Melbourne.

 

In West Palm Beach, Elizabeth taught English at Cardinal Newman High School before opening and building a successful antiques business. Elizabeth turned her fondness for Teddy Bears into a large part of the business, selling and buying Steiff stuffed animals, especially bears.

 

Elizabeth and Don traveled to Germany annually to visit the Steiff factory and friends they had made through Steiff. They sold at some of the largest antique shows in the country, including Brimfield, Mass. Teddy Bears spread into her daily life, too, as she decorated her home with bears of all sizes and styles.

 

 Elizabeth was also a quilter, making personalized quilts for family members and attending quilting festivals around the eastern United States. Her love of language led her to word games, and she was an enthusiastic player of Words with Friends and other word games. In addition to the trips to Germany, she and Don traveled to much of the United States and Europe.

 

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Donald Neitz; her children, Daniel (Lisa) Neitz, Nancy (Jon) Lambert and Kenneth (Lora) Neitz; her grandchildren, Jennifer (Chance) Baker, Matthew Neitz, Daniel (Patty) Peterson, Stephanie (Ryan) Duffield, Kristen (Ben) Williams, K.J. Neitz, Bradford (Alix) Lambert, Benjamin Lambert, and Braydon Lambert; her great-granddaughter, Emma Williams; her brother, Bob Neal, and sister, Carol (Bill) Piper, and many nieces and nephews.

 

Elizabeth was predeceased by her parents Helen and Robert, along with her sisters Margaret and Ruth.

 

Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Elizabeth’s life between 2 and 5 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 1954 Botanica Circle in West Melbourne.

 

The family suggests donation to the American Cancer Society in lieu of flowers.