John Joseph Neitzke

John Joseph Neitzke
1953-2021

John Joseph Neitzke, 67, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away at home on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

The son of the late Marie Augusta (Stenzel) and Joseph George Neitzke, John was born in Saginaw Michigan on July 8, 1953.  On May 19, 1979, at University Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Michigan, John was married to Virginia (Ginger) Lee Davis.  John is survived by his wife of almost 42 years, Ginger, and son Iosif, sister Janet Snyder (Larry), sisters-in-law Sue Lewis and Terry Clark, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Lucille Shaver (Bob), and Donna Shimer (Larry).

John attended Michigan State University and Indiana University Bloomington, earning a Bachelor of Science With High Honor in Mathematics from Michigan State in 1973, a Master of Arts in Mathematics in 1975 from Indiana University Bloomington, and a Master
of Science in Statistics and a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics in 1980 from Michigan State.  He further attended the Institute For Retraining In Computer Science (IFRICS) at Clarkson University in 1985, and later the University of Idaho and University of Missouri.

John taught Mathematics at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois from 1980 to 1984, and taught Computer Science and Mathematics at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas from 1984 to 1987.  John was a Professor of Computer Science at Truman
State University in Kirksville, Missouri, for 33 years before retiring in August of 2020.  He belonged to Phi Kappa Phi and Pi Mu Epsilon.

Growing up on a farm near Breckenridge, Michigan, John always considered himself a farmer, and liked to grow things.  He enjoyed deer and turkey hunting, building, woodworking, antique tractors (red ones), classical music, reading, baking and cooking, and making elaborate birthday cakes for colleagues, church members, friends, and family.  ( A selection of his cakes:
http://jneitzke.sites.truman.edu/cakes/ )  He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.

John will be cremated and a Memorial Service may be held at a later date.  There will be no funeral.
Suggested Memorials in lieu of flowers are the Siteman Cancer Center Discovery Fund ( https://siteman.wustl.edu/give/siteman-advancement-office/ ) and Faith Lutheran Church (1820 S Baltimore, Kirksville MO, 63501).

Arrangement in the care of Davis-Playle-Hudson-0Rimer Funeral Home; www.davisplaylehudsonrimer.com.