by Janet Dovidio
news@thewoodstockindependent.com
SOAR@Dorr (Serving Older Active Adults) was created in 2021 to establish a center for actively…
October 9, 2026
John T. Neis, 86, Marengo, died Monday, March 4, 2013, at Swedish American Hospital, Rockford.
He was born Oct. 4, 1926, in Amboy to Adelbert and Bertilla (Dyer) Neis.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and served in World War II and Korea.
He was a member of the Marengo Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 689910 and was proprietor of Rexall Drug Store in Ohio, Ill. He also was an insurance executive and helped establish Neis Insurance Company in Crystal Lake. Many of his clients and employees were from the Woodstock area.
Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Mary (Richard) Phannenstill; a son, Thomas (Marilyn) Neis; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Neis, Melissa (Chris) Wittenborn and R.J. Phannenstill; four nieces, Annie Smith, Barb Wuchifki, Cindy Barich and Debbie Herber; and longtime companion, Pat Hawkins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Molly; and a sister, Betty Barich Newses.
The funeral was March 8 at Crystal Lake Memorial Park, Crystal Lake. Arrangements were made by Skaja Bachmann Funeral Home, Crystal Lake.