Neva Albert

NEVA ALBERT

Cedar Rapids

Neva E. Albert of Urbandale, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died in the arms of her son on Oct. 24, 2014, at Methodist West Hospital. She was 94 years old.

Neva was a vigorous, vivacious woman, full of life right up until the end. She had a razor-sharp mind and lived in her own home until her death.

The daughter of John L. and Sadie A. (Chesley) Munger, she was born June 14, 1920, in Hazleton, Iowa. She was raised on her parents' farm and graduated from high school at age 16. She earned a diploma in 1941 from St. Luke's Methodist School of Nursing in Cedar Rapids and worked there as a registered nurse for three years.

In 1945, Neva moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, to marry Richard M. Albert of Cedar Rapids, who was serving in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific. They lived near the Kaneohe Naval Air Base, and she worked as a registered nurse at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu for the last year of World War II.

After the war, they moved back to Cedar Rapids, where Richard operated Albert's Furriers for years and was in the dry cleaning business all his life at Albert's Cleaners. Neva undertook the job of raising their new son, Jim. She returned to St. Luke's Hospital when Jim was older, then retired from nursing in the early 1980s. But she never could retire from raising Jim – he was that much work!

Jim also was her pride and joy, and he was a devoted son to her. Neva was very involved in Jim's life and was his inspiration, adviser and source of wisdom in every challenge he took on. She was especially supportive of the foundation he created to assist impoverished children in Belize. She also adored Jim's two grandchildren, who formerly lived in West Des Moines, and who loved her greatly.

Neva was a member of the United Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1991; her 12-day-old infant daughter, Mary Ellen, in Honolulu; her parents; and her siblings, Grace Munger, Lucille Coupal, Delbert Munger and Glenn Munger.

She is survived by her son, James Albert of Urbandale; two grandsons, Brian and Bradley Albert, a granddaughter, Aimee Albert, a great-grandson, Aiden Albert, and a great-granddaughter, Ava Albert, all of Atlanta. Also surviving are her brother-in-law, Jack Albert of Marshall, Minn.; two nieces, Deborah Albert of Gilroy, Calif., and Susan Strautz of Marshall, Minn.; and a nephew, John Albert of Cedar Rapids.

A celebration of Neva's life will be at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 in her Urbandale home.

Memorials may be made to the Neva E. Albert Scholarship, in care of the James Arthur Albert Foundation for children in Belize, 4460 91st St., Urbandale, IA 50322 or www.HelpingBelize Kids.org.

Dunn's Chapel is handling cremation arrangements. Burial will be in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.