Kenneth Neal

RENDON -- Kenneth Edward Neal, 60, a criminal investigator with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Office of the Inspector General, lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer Sunday night, May 10, 2009. Ken passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends at a Dallas hospital. Celebration of life: 11 a.m. Thursday at Blessing Funeral Home. Interment: Green Lawn Cemetery in Port Lavaca. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Blessing. Ken was born Oct. 28, 1948, in Temple to Commie Neal and Evelyn Saegert Neal. He was in baptized April 1949 at First Methodist Church in Killeen. Ken began his career while still in high school in Port Lavaca and served over 40 years in the criminal justice field in law enforcement and parole. He was a certified arson investigator and a firearms instructor. As a highly skilled investigator with an extensive background in investigative techniques, Ken earned the respect of those who worked with him. Ken also loved his leather crafting and was an active member of Hide Crafters Leather Guild in Fort Worth. His father, Commie Neal, and daughter, Cathy Rhody, preceded him in death. Survivors: Ken was blessed with a loving family. He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Evelyn and Gerard Lobrecht of Killeen; beloved wife, Linda; son, Kenneth Neal II and wife, Christen, of Bellevue, Neb.; daughter, Christy Jones of Venus: grandchildren, Sylvia Robyn and Kenny Neal of Nebraska, Cody Jones of Venus and Colton and Grace Rhody of Mansfield; sister, Barbara Schneider and husband, Walt, of Killeen; brother, Lester and wife, Cheri, of Thousand Oaks, Calif.; and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Kenneth Neal please visit our Sympathy Store.