Rev. Charles Neill, 79, of Atchison, KS, died on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at his home after a long struggle with ALS.
Charlie was born on February 1, 1946, in Atchison, KS the son of Curtis and Esther (Bodenhausen) Neill. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Atchison known as the Camp Creek Community. He graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1964. He was active in sports, track, football and basketball. He was also involved in several leadership positions including student body president his senior year and received the State Farm Award in F.F.A. He was chosen to give the major address at this graduation ceremony.
In 1968 he graduated from Westmar College in LeMars, IA. There he continued his involvement in leadership and was president of his graduating class. In 1971, he graduated from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. While there, he served on the staff of the Inner-City Ministry of the United Methodist Church serving on the Kansas City East side. Charlie also completed studies in Clinical Chaplain training at Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha, NE and at the North Dakota State Mental Hospital in Jamestown, ND.
On May 31, 1969, he married Barbara Anderson in Fargo, ND. In June of 1971 they began 25 years of pastoral ministry in North Dakota. He served 12 years in Crystal, ND, 6 years as Senior Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Bismark, and then 7 years at Calvary Church in Fargo, ND. In all three parishes, he oversaw major building projects. Charlie also served the United Methodist Conference of North Dakota for 13 years as Coordinator of Youth Ministry. He concluded his active ministry serving the Zion-Robinson Parish near Hiawatha, Kansas.
After retirement, he enjoyed doing manual labor on the farm, fishing, gardening and selling his carvings using the business name, “The Preacher’s Woodshed”.
Rev. Neill was preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Esther, and one sister Shirley Neill. Survivors include his wife, Barb and two children: Jennifer (Rob) Bentley, Warrensburg, MO, and Aaron (Stefanie) Neill, of Lee’s Summit, MO, and two grandchildren, Lukas and Brynlee Neill, a brother Robert (Karen) Neill, Cummings, KS and a sister Barbara (Cliff) Metcalfe, Lancaster, KS.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, Feb. 2nd, 2026, at the Becker Dyer Stanton Funeral Home, 800 Kansas Ave, Atchison, KS with Rev. Shane Spangler officiating. Burial will follow in the Camp Creek Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 pm on Sunday, Feb. 1st, 2026, at the Becker Dyer Stanton Funeral Home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Atchison County 4-H Scholarships.
