Neal Freckleton

Neal W. Freckleton, 89, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by his family on September 8, 2015 at PMC. Neal was born in Wapello at his grandparents homestead on December 8, 1925. He was born the son of Rose Peterson. He entered the world early weighing in at a little over 4 lbs. He was so tiny they put him in a shoe box and set him on the open oven door of their wood stove to keep him warm. When his mother was unable to care for him he was adopted by his mothers sister Fern and her husband Leland Freckleton and raised as a twin brother to their son Rex. Fern had given birth to Rex in Pocatello only hours apart from Neals birth in Wapello. He moved to Pocatello as a small child and attended Roosevelt Elementary, Irving Jr High, & Pocatello High School. During his senior year he joined the U.S. Army and left to serve his country where he was stationed in India and Burma. He traveled completely around the world through the Suez Canal, also visiting Spain during his military career. He received his honorary High School Diploma on December 7, 2000 as he was unable to finish high school due to his military service. After returning home at the end of World War II, he entered into business with his father and brothers where they owned Bannock Lumber & Coal Co. After the family business was closed he continued to work in the lumber industry and later retired from Hansen Janitorial Supply where he worked as a salesman. In March of 1962 he married the love of his life Gail Cunningham who had actually been raised around the corner from Neals family home. Their first encounter was when Gail and her brother Tom were hooky bobbing behind his car one winter day on their way home from school. He stopped the car and chased them down the street but really didnt try to catch them just yelled about how dangerous their actions were. Little did either of them know they would someday meet and spend the rest of their lives together. They joined their families together after traveling to Elko with Neals brother Rex and his wife Dee to tie the knot. Both brought 2 children to the marriage and added 1 more son (rotten Ross) a year later. Neal bought land and built one of the first homes in the Mink Creek area where he raised his family. He was an avid animal lover and surrounded his family with horses, dogs, cats, chickens, goats etc. Neal was a loving father and actively worked with his children instilling a true love of animals, especially horses. He helped each of his 5 children raise a horse from a colt and train them from start to finish. Joni remembers how meticulous he was when teaching them the right way to care for their horses, insisting that the horses were fed and watered before eating themselves. They were always brushed and curried before being pastured. If the horses needed shod, he was able to do it as he was an accomplished horseshoer/farrier. One of Cheris fondest memories when she was young, was about a horse named Husky, who would not always mind the children. When Neal came out of the house to help, the screen door would slam behind him. Eventually the kids learned to just slam the screen door and Husky would turn around and start walking down the driveway for the kids. He was a member of the Bannock County Mounted Sheriffs Posse for over 25 years. He was called upon by the Sheriffs office to help search for lost or missing people in the area and was deputized as a law enforcement officer for these occasions. During the summers he loaded up the Winnebago and horse trailer and traveled to rodeos all over southeast Idaho where he competed in many EIRA competitions, winning many trophies and ribbons for his skill as an excellent horseman. He taught his children these same skills. Neal loved to camp, throw horse shoes, go fishing, and spend time with his family in the outdoors. In the evenings around the campfire, Neal would tell stories about his shenanigans as a young man. After all their children married and moved from home, Neal and Gail stayed in their home on Mink Creek. After dinner in the evenings he loved to sit next to Gail playing cards and liked to challenge himself by tracking the score of all his solitaire games, joking about how much money he was losing. He was a true gentleman and never allowed her to put gas into her own car. He always drove her around until his eye site would not allow him to do so. He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years "Gail". Children Joni (Rod) Bullock, Rex (Kim) Lish, Scot (Debi) Freckleton, Cheri (Greg) Rosa, Ross (Amanda) Freckleton, 18 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, sister, and 3 great grandchildren Braedon Rosa, Ashley Smith, and Alexis Freckleton. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at 11 AM at Colonial Funeral Home 2005 S. 4th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho 83201, 208-233-1500 with a viewing from 10 to 10:45 AM prior to the services. The family will receive friends and family on Friday, September 11, 2015 from 6-8 PM at Colonial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, 2864 S. 5th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho 83204.

Visitation

09/11/2015 18:00

20:00:00

Inkom Bible Church

251 Grant Street

Inkom

Idaho

83245



Funeral Service

09/12/2015 11:00



Colonial Chapel

2005 S 4th Ave

Pocatello

Idaho

83201