Archie Hugo Mcneil

Archie Hugo McNeil passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 20, 2023, at Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa, Iowa. Archie was born on April 28, 1930, to Louise (Thielen) and Albert McNeil in a farmhouse located one-half mile south of the Preston Cemetery. At age 5, he went to Preston Public Schools and started Sunday School at St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he has been a member his whole life. Archie graduated from Preston Consolidated Schools in 1947 and began farming with his parents until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1952 as part of the Korean War conscription mandate.

Archie was assigned to military duty in Europe and stationed in Salzburg, Austria. He earned the rank of Sergeant in 1953 and, after serving his full two-year tour of duty, was honorably discharged on January 23, 1954. He and several of his buddies loved to travel around Europe when they had furloughs, during which Archie met his future wife, Heidi, in Zuckenriet, Switzerland. They were married on January 30, 1954, in Switzerland, and enjoyed a honeymoon on the Italian Riviera.

Prior to his military duty, Archie purchased the 50-acre farm north of his parent’s homestead in the fall of 1951. His dad farmed the land until Archie returned from the Army with his Swiss bride on March 5, 1954. Archie and Heidi initially lived on the farm where Archie was born, while farming the land in partnership with Archie’s parents. In 1958, they built a new home on the 50 acres Archie had purchased in 1951, where they lived for nearly 63 years until moving to Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa in the Fall of 2020. As the years went by, they increased their acreage and livestock ownership – at one point owning more than 1,000 acres of prime Iowa farmland. Archie, with help from Heidi and their three children, was able to farm most of the land on his own for many years until retirement. The livestock they raised varied over the years, including milk cows, beef cattle, hogs (from start to finish farrowing operations), sheep, goats, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, and even a Llama.

Archie joined the American Legion upon returning to the US after his military duty. He served two years as Commander of the Preston American Legion Post and handled the duties of the Finance Officer for over 30 years. He was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council several times, including President twice. He was a member of the Jackson County Pork Producers and served one year as President. He was an active member of the Jackson County Historical Society Board for nearly 20 years, held the position of President for two different terms. He was a regular participant in Pioneer Days in Maquoketa, demonstrating shelling corn and other activities.

He was well regarded in Eastern Iowa as an excellent farmer, winning trophies as Top Yield for both corn and soybeans in Jackson County. He was a member of the Clinton and Jackson County Corn and Soybean Clubs, and served as Chairperson of the Jackson County Club for one year.

In addition to being regarded as a skilled and proficient farmer, Archie, along with Heidi, worked hard each year to display some of the largest and most amazing vegetable and flower gardens in the area, as well as numerous fruit trees of all types. Their vast gardens were regularly included on Summer and Fall Home Tours in the Preston area. Archie, along with Heidi, took the countless hours of classes and necessary instruction to obtain certification as Master Gardeners – which they maintained for many years. Archie was a regular fixture at local Farmer’s Markets, selling his award-winning fruit and vegetables, as well as his highly-sought-after home-made apple cider. His flowers and vegetables garnered many blue ribbons at the local fairs. Notwithstanding being a busy farmer and husband, Archie also enjoyed collecting and restoring antique tractors. He won multiple trophies for showing his tractors at different fairs and events over the years.

Archie was an adamant supporter of the environment and “giving back” to future generations. On October 23, 1999, Archie and Heidi donated 58 acres of timber and prairie land to the Jackson County Conservation Board for their use in perpetuity as a nature learning center and hiking trails. The area, which is located northeast of Archie’s family homestead, was formally dedicated as the “McNeil Nature Preserve” and is open year-round to the public.

One of Archie’s proudest moments was receiving the Heritage Farm Award at the Iowa State Fair in August of 2018. This honor is only bestowed upon farms (at least 40 acres) that have been owned by the same family for 150 years or more. The farmland was purchased in 1868 by Henry S. McNeil, Archie’s great-great grandfather, after Henry returned from military service in the Civil War. Six generations of the McNeil Family have lived on the farm. Archie’s son Tom and his wife Beth currently live on the farm, located east of Preston. At the time of recognition in 2018, there were only 27 Heritage Farms in Jackson County.

Another of Archie’s memorable events was being selected for the 22nd Honor Flight on April 26, 2013, where he and other war veterans were flown to Washington DC from the Quad-Cities to participate in tours and activities in honor of their military service.

Archie was most proud of his three children, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, and kept up with all of their many activities over the years. He and his wife Heidi felt very blessed to be able to raise their children on the farm and be involved in the hard work and the rewards accomplished through farm life. Although they loved being on their farm, they also enjoyed numerous trips to Europe over the years to visit Heidi’s family, as well as many trips to Arizona to visit their daughter Heidi. They also travelled to Japan when their “daughter” Yuko (who had lived with them as a foreign exchange student in 1976-77) got married. They visited Hawaii twice, the Bahamas, and most of the 48 contiguous states.

Archie will be dearly missed by his family. He is survived by his son Max (Vicky) of Preston; daughter Heidi (Bill Staudenmaier) of Phoenix, Arizona; and son Tom (Beth) of Preston; six grandchildren (Adam, Albert, Kate, Carson, Jacob & Sydney); five great-grandchildren (Brooklyn, Zooey, Alexander, Archie & Zeke); sister Sandra Despreaux of Florida; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by Heidi, his cherished bride of nearly 67 years; his parents, and two sisters Alberta (who died in infancy) and JoAnn Kunde.

Visitation will be held Sunday, November 5 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Preston. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM, Monday, November 6 at St. John’s. Following the military veteran’s salute and burial at the Preston Cemetery, lunch will be served at St. John’s.

Memorials can be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church (204 North Anna St., Preston, IA 52069) and The Honor Flight of the Quad-Cities (c/o Ridgecrest Village, 4130 Northwest Blvd, Davenport IA 52806 – website: honorflightqc.org).