Neil W. Early

Lincoln, Neb. – Services for Neil W. Early, 73, Lincoln, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lincoln.Mr. Early died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, in Lincoln. He was born Aug. 23, 1934, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Neil and Elizabeth Porter Early. He grew up in the Kansas City area and graduated from De La Salle Military Academy in 1952. He later attended Kansas City, Mo., Junior College.Mr. Early served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for four years. He worked in bowling centers in California, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska since 1955. He managed five Professional Bowling Association tournaments as manager of King Louie West Lanes in Overland Park, Kan., from 1969 to 1973 and was a managing partner of Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln since 1977.He was a senior member of the PBA and bowled in a number of senior tournaments across the country. He was inducted into the Lincoln Men’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame in 1991 and bowled a perfect 300 game in league play in 1998. Mr. Early was a member of United Lutheran Church, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Volleyball Match Club, Hillcrest Country Club, American Legion and Bassmasters. He volunteered as a Meals on Wheels driver and supported a variety of charitable organizations. He enjoyed golf, fishing, photography and spending time relaxing at his lake cabin on West Leaf Lake, Minn.He married Deb Rogers-Early on May 7, 1994. She survives, of the home.Other survivors include his mother, Elizabeth Crossley, Olathe, Kan.; his stepmother, Lois Early, Chandler, Ariz.; four sons, Neil, Chandler, Ariz.; Keith and wife Tammy, Black Canyon City, Ariz.; Chris and wife Jana, Overland Park, Kan., and Rob, central Missouri; three daughters, Janice Early-Weas and husband Mike, Lawrence, Kan.; Nancy Spiegel and husband Mike, Shawnee, Kan., and Teresa Riley and husband Byron, Holton, Kan.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Karen Rogers, Aurora; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Rich and Tammie Burns and Keith and Lisa Henning, all of Lincoln; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; many aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews; and two cats, Mollie and Sophie.Mr. Early was preceded in death by his father, Neil; a brother, Keith; and a son, Todd.The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Roper and Sons Chapel in Lincoln.The family suggests memorials to the Medical Oncology fund at St. Elizabeth’s Foundation, 6900 L Street, Lincoln, NE 68510 or a charity of the donor’s choice.Online condolences may be sent at www.roperandsons .com.