Neal David Breitbarth was taken to Heaven Friday, March 18, 2022, at a Scottsdale, Ariz. hospital, with his wife at his side.

Neal was born Oct. 21, 1955, at Fairmont Community Hospital, to Eldor and Lois (Olhoft) Breitbarth of rural Truman. He was baptized at St John’s Lutheran Church, Antrim, rural Truman on Nov. 13, 1955. Neal attended St. John’s Lutheran School, Antrim, a one-room school, for 7 years and St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Truman for 8th grade. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith April 27, 1969, at St. Paul’s in Truman. He graduated from Truman High School in 1973 and attended Mankato State University. Neal met the love of his life, Juleen Grefe, of Fairmont, on a blind date in 1981. They were married on May 28, 1983, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fairmont and were blessed with 3 children. Neal grew up working on his family farm and at neighboring farms. He worked at Nickerson’s Service Station, Salstrom’s Mobil and the Felco station, Truman. In 1976 he began working at Fairmont Railway Motors as machinist, welder and inspector. In 1989 he joined Jim Hill Ag Industrial as salesman, then became general manager and part owner where he also started Fairmont RV. In 2011, he began working for Easy Automation in Welcome. In 2019, Neal started his dream job as District Ag Director for US Congressman Jim Hagedorn.

Faith was very important to Neal and he was heavily involved at church. He served as Congregational chairman and on many boards. His passion was for parochial education, serving on the boards of education at St. Paul’s Lutheran-Truman, St. Paul Lutheran-Fairmont and Martin Luther High School-Northrop. Neal also served his church at the district and national levels. He was on the LCMS MN-South District board of directors and was a delegate and served on floor committee for numerous national LCMS conventions.

Neal was very involved in politics, trying to leave a better world for his children and grandchildren. As a member of the Republican Party, he served as Martin County chairman, 2nd Congressional District chairman, on the MN GOP executive committee, three time GOP national convention delegate and national rules committee. Neal was on many committees for state representative, state senate, gubernatorial, US Congress, US Senate and presidential campaigns. Locally he put up thousands of campaign signs, organized and worked in the GOP booth at the county fair, walked in hundreds of parades, including his family in most of those activities. He also served as clerk of Westford Township. Neal was an avid deer, goose and duck hunter, enjoying that time with his sons and grandson. He always looked forward to his annual duck hunting trip to North Dakota with his guys. Neal enjoyed brewing beer and sharing it with friends. He was a builder and woodworker and his children often said that there wasn’t anything that dad couldn’t fix. Neal is survived by his wife, Juleen; children, Adam (Lisa) of Hutchinson, Minn., Michael of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Rebekah (Noah) Rogness of Alexandria, Va.; grandchildren, Lydia, Samson, Jonah and Gabriel Rogness; step grandchildren, Paige (Justen) Smithers and Presley Martinson; siblings, Steven (Janelle), Alan (Cathy), Barb Vandrey, Paul (Dianne); in-laws, Lee and Laurel Engquist, and Tom and Mary Grefe; plus many nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Herman and Darla Mae Grefe; brother-in-law, Victor Vandrey; grandson, Mitchell; an unborn child in ’86 and an unborn grandchild in 2021. In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are preferred to St. Paul’s Lutheran, Truman, Martin Luther High School, Northrop or Caringbridge.org. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.zahariafamilyfuneral.com.

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