June 22, 1943 – February 26, 2026
Neil C. Boyd, age 82, of Forest City, IA, passed away on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at his home in Forest City, IA.
Visitation for Neil will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Schott Funeral Home in Forest City, IA.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, IA, with Pastor Zech Anderson officiating. There will also be a time of visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of the service at the church.
If you are unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed from the Immanuel Lutheran Church YouTube Page at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@immanuelfamily3825/featured
Neil Chester Boyd was born June 22, 1943, in Albert Lea, MN to Marion (Anderson) Boyd and Chet Boyd. He grew up in Northfield, MN, where he hunted on horseback with his bow as a young boy. Spending weeks in the summer with his Grandma and Grandpa in New Richland, MN almost made him a farm boy. It definitely nurtured his love of hunting and the outdoors. Neil played baseball, football, basketball (and wrestled) in high school and in college played both football and baseball.
It was at St. Olaf College that Neil met Leah Johnson and these college sweethearts were married June 25, 1966. Their first home was in Havre, Montana, where Neil taught, coached, and was athletic director for 3 years. He earned his Master’s Degree from the University of North Dakota in 1969. When asked what his secret to completing his thesis so quickly he would answer, “Marry the right wife, an English major.” All his doctoral studies were done at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
His goal to teach and coach at the college level began that fall when he was hired by Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. It was a private Christian junior college and such a perfect fit that he continued there for 36 years. He really enjoyed the teaching and the students. He said the coaching was challenging but very rewarding.
To say he was an outdoorsman was an understatement and Leah often suggested he was born too late. If he’d been born earlier, it might have been Lewis, Clark, and Boyd! Truly, hunting and fishing were favorites of Neil’s, and he was a careful, dedicated sportsman. He went to Canada fishing for 50 years with the same group of friends who called themselves CFTORN: Canada Fishing Ted Ole Roger Neil. He was still going (had reservations for 2026) which proves he took putting walleye on the table seriously.
A bear hunting trip to Canada, a buffalo hunting trip to South Dakota, and elk hunting trips to New Mexico were great adventures, but the 27 consecutive years hunting antelope (etc.) in Wyoming and camping in a tent by the Powder River with many different friends but always Ron was the one constant in those hunting adventures. However, Neil didn’t always travel far to hunt. He considered it a true blessing to live in Iowa and have two friends who allowed him to bow hunt on their farms.
Neil dreamed big. One dream was to own a fishing lodge in Canada, and when Monroe Lake Lodge came up for sale that dream came true. He thrived promoting it and taking bookings at Sports & Travel shows. Another dream was to build a log home in the Rocky Mountains. That dream also came true when he, son Ryan, and friends, built the log garage with living quarters above it in Colorado.
He felt fortunate to be able to do the things he got to do. However the real joys in his life came when their sons Brent and Ryan were born 15 months apart. Truly, being a father and grandfather topped his list. He did not miss Michael’s football, basketball, or baseball games. He and Leah counted the 244 mile round trip for all those games over the years a privilege and an opportunity. He is the same proud enthusiastic fan of Camdyn’s and Alayna’s games!
Neil was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1962, but opted to stay in college. He was inducted into the National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986. However, his most enjoyable honor was his induction into the Waldorf University Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10, 2025, and into the University’s Athletic Team Hall of Fame the following day.
Other interests of this genuine and generous man include traveling (he was an incredible family travel agent), reading- especially westerns and mysteries, playing bridge or farkle, camping, biking, skiing, snowshoeing, gardening, watching Iowa Hawkeye and Minnesota Viking games, cooking (outstanding chef), AND decorating for Christmas- including hiding the pickle!
Neil is survived by his wife Leah of 59 years; sons, Brent (Joan DeHeus) and Ryan (Tara); grandchildren: Michael Ryan Boyd, Alayna Lynn Boyd, and Camdyn Neil Boyd; sister, Mary Bierman; and cousins, a niece, 2 nephews, and many true friends and good neighbors.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; mother-and father-in-law, Swanie and Arnold Johnson; and brother-in-law, James Bierman.
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