Neva Ikier

Neva Mabel Ikier, age 93, died Friday, September 29, 2017 at her home at Oak Terrace Assisted Living, North Mankato.

Funeral service will be held Tuesday, October 3rd at 10:30 a.m. at Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation will be held at Northview on Monday, October 2nd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and also one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Vernon Center Cemetery.

Neva was born March 22, 1924 in Mankato to Verner and Stella (Geary) Crane. She graduated from Pemberton High School and received her teaching degree from Mankato Teachers College. She taught three years in the elementary school in Okabena, Minnesota.

Neva was united in marriage to Donald William Ikier on June 28, 1946 at the Congregational Church in Pemberton. She taught an additional year at Oliver Schoolhouse in rural Vernon Center. They farmed near Vernon Center until retiring in 1980 and moving to Mankato.

Neva both taught and played piano for Sunday school and release-time classes, was a 4-H leader, and (along with Donald) volunteered 60,000 hours at Immanuel – St. Joseph’s Hospital. They were recognized for their service to the community by receiving the KARE 11 Who Care Award in 2007. They loved to travel, visiting 49 states and many provinces in Canada. She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, baking, embroidery, and gardening. Neva wrote in her daily diary for the last 75 years and continued to correspond with her college dorm mates since the 1940’s in the “Round Robin” letter chain.

Neva is survived by 3 children, Kenneth (Pam) Ikier of Rochester, Doris (Pat) Ikier of Eagan, and Marilyn (Douglas) Larson of North Mankato; 2 granddaughters, Jamie of Eagan and Tracy of Mankato; and sister, Gertrude (Darrell) Schubbe of Pemberton.

Neva was preceded in death by her husband, Donald in 2015; her parents; sister, Edith (Melvin) Hopman; and brother-in-law, Elmer Ikier.