Neal B. Bottger

Neal B. Bottger, 86, of Mt. Pleasant, formerly of West Burlington died Monday, August 13, 2018 at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City.

Born January 13, 1932 in Ollie, Iowa he was the son of Gerald V. and Edna H. (Sipes) Bottger. He married Mary Ann Stefamick on September 17, 1955 in Youngstown, Ohio. She died September 18, 1985. He then married Maria C. Mellado on June 14, 1986 in Burlington, they later divorced.

Mr. Bottger was a school teacher for over 34 years in the Burlington school district. He was a graduate of Ollie Consolidated Schools, Central College and earned his M.A. degree from the University of Iowa. He served in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

Neal was a member of the NEA, ISEA, Moose Lodge and the Sport Officials Association in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. He enjoyed sports officiating, bowling, powerwalking and golf and was well known to showcase his love for dancing. He was an avid collector of Indian pennies and other items such as small cars and Indian related items. He enjoyed his New Years celebrations with his family in Chile.

Survivors include his children; Neal Bottger of Katy, Texas, Marina Miller, formerly Anne Marie Bedenbender of Burlington and Mario Bottger-Mellado of Mt. Pleasant; one sister Geraldine Pearson of Hiawatha, Iowa; two brothers, Rex Bottger of Excelsor Springs, Missouri and John Bottger of Ollie, Iowa and his second wife and caregiver, Maria Mellado of Mt. Pleasant and brother-in-law Nelson Mellado of Mt. Pleasant.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife Mary Ann and one brother Gene Bottger.

The Memorial Mass for Mr. Bottger will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, August 16th at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant. The Rev. Father Paul Connolly will be the celebrant. Inurnment will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington following the Memorial Mass. The Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard will conduct military rites. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. tonight at Lunning Chapel with a Christian Wake to be held at 8:00 p.m.