William J. "Bill" McNeive

William J. McNeive (Bill), 75, died peacefully at home Thursday morning surrounded by family. Born in Emmett, Kans., to John A. and Kathryn Murry McNeive, the family moved to Topeka where Bill attended Holy Name Grade School, Hayden High School and Washburn University. He joined the ROTC and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1955. That summer he married Sarah Thacher and the couple moved to Great Falls, Mont., where he served in the U.S. Air Force. They returned to Topeka, found a home in the Potwin neighborhood and remained life-long residents. Bill was employed by Fleming Foods, then by Famous Brands prior to purchasing his own company Cla-Mar, Inc. in 1977. He remained in the wholesale floor covering business until he retired in 2006 at which time he gave the company to his employees through an ESOP program. As a young businessman, Bill joined the Topeka Country Club, the John P. Welsh Investment Club, and Topeka’s 20/30 Club. He was an active alumnus of his Alpha Delta fraternity. Bill was a life-long member of Holy Name Church (Mater Dei). Bill is survived by his family: Kate McNeive of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jane and David Albright of Kansas City, Mo., and their daughter Joy; three sisters-in-law -- Nancy McNeive of Freeport, Ill., Becky (and Darrel) Lowell of Savannah, Ga., Lucy (and Vik) Jackson of Scottsdale, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his wife Sarah in 2004, his siblings Rosemary Mahoney, Dorothy Kuhlengel, Eileen Collins, Virginia McDonough, Jack McNeive and Bob McNeive; in the final weeks of his life, he was faithfully cared for at home with the assistance of their children. Bill will lie in state Monday after 4 p.m. at Mater Dei Holy Name Church. A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m.; family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Mass of Resurrection will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m., also at Mater Dei Holy Name, followed by interment at Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the William J. McNeive and Robert J. Bernica Endowed Fund c/o the Washburn Endowment Association, 1729 SW MacVicar, Topeka, KS 66604. Or to the Cotton-O’Neil Cancer Center of Stormont Veil Hospital, 1414 S.W. Eighth Ave., Topeka, KS 66606 where Bill had received outstanding treatment since 1992; he often said that Dr. Stanley Vogel and the oncology staff gave him the last ten years of his life. Funeral arrangements are being handled through the Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home.

William J. "Bill" McNeive

September 3, 2007