Dr. Neal J. Van Ness, 59, of Leesburg, passed away at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 9, 2009, in Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.
He was born April 25, 1950, in Marion, to Ralph and Beryl Lou McCoy Van Ness. On Nov. 15, 1997, he married Pam Slusher, who survives.
Living in Kosciusko County since 1991, he was a general surgeon at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, since moving here.
He was a 1968 Marion High School graduate; attended Indiana University; finished his undergraduate schooling at Murray (Ky.) State University, graduating in 1982; graduated from the University of Louisville (Ky.) School of Medicine in 1986; completed the Integrated General Surgery Residency Program from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich; and completed the Surgery Residence Program at McLaren General Hospital, Flint, Mich.
He was the vice president of the Kosciusko Community Hospital board; president of the Kosciusko County Medical Society; and was chair of the Cancer Committee at Kosciusko Community Hospital. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity of Indiana University, and was the team physician for Wawasee High School's athletic department, Syracuse.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing, boating, NASCAR racing, music, movies and playing the banjo. The love of his life was seeing his patients and working in the community.
Also surviving are a daughter, Carrye (and spouse Matt) Boggs, Warsaw; four sons: Bradley Van Ness, Warsaw; Ryan (and spouse Julie) Anderson, Kankakee, Ill.; Craig (and spouse Leanne) Anderson, Walkerton; and Travis (and spouse Cassie) Klenke, Syracuse; eight grandchildren: Dylan, Madison, Patrick, Kylie, Nolan, Logan, Makynna and Bailey; his father, Ralph Van Ness, Indianapolis; three sisters, Valda (and spouse David) Frizzell, Indianapolis; and Lynelle Lawson and Coleen (and spouse Bill) Boxell, all of Florida; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and dear friends, Dr. Al Martindale and Sharon Holtz.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Warsaw Community Church, 2300 Ranch Road, with Pastor Denny Wilson officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
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Memorials to the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund, c/o K21 Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1810, Warsaw, IN 46581-1810; Wawasee High School Athletics Dept., #1 Warrior Path, Syracuse, IN 46567; Kosciusko County Community Foundation, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or the Salvation Army, 501 Arthur St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
Condolences may be sent to www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com
