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James Albert Neel, 88, of The Highlands at Wyomissing, passed away Thursday, December 7, 2017.

He was born April 1, 1929, son of the late Merville and Lucile (Nicholas) Neel.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota, a registered professional engineer, Jim was employed by the Western Electric Company in St. Paul, Minnesota and was transferred to Reading, Pennsylvania in 1958 where he worked until his retirement in 1987 when it was then known as Lucent Technologies.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janet, daughter Dr. Kathryn Neel, Silver Spring, MD, grandson Aidan Kennedy, Silver Spring, MD, son David Neel, Philadelphia, PA, daughter-in-law Cindy Neel, Reading, PA, sister Nancy Ludwig, St. Paul, MN, step grandchildren Shane (Carrie) Gross of Bethlehem, PA, Trevor Gross, Bethlehem, PA and Rachel Neel Smith, Carson City, Nevada, and brother-in-law Donald Wright (Sharon) of Santa Fe, New Mexico and White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

A member of Pennside Presbyterian Church, Mount Penn, PA for 50 years, Jim served as deacon, elder, regional committee member, and chaired several building expansion committees for the church. A volunteer on a number of civic committees, Jim was given the Pennsylvania State "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" award in 1989 for his work on the design and reconstruction of the Threshold building at 1000 Lancaster Avenue in Reading, PA, our outstanding facility for training and employment of handicapped people. For this he was given the award of Outstanding Volunteer of the Year nationally.

He also served on the board of Planned Parenthood of Northeast Pennsylvania, now Planned Parenthood Keystone, for which he was given the Margaret Sanger award.

Jim was an ardent traveler. He and Janet visited all 50 states, all but two Canadian provinces, and 56 other countries throughout the world.

The family requests no flowers, but memorials to Planned Parenthood Keystone, P.O. Box 813, Trexlertown, PA 18087, or The Reading Symphony Orchestra, 147 North 5th Street, Suite 4, Reading, PA 19601, or Calvary United Church of Christ, 640 Centre Avenue, Reading, PA 19601.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 2 p.m., at The Highlands at Wyomissing. A visitation will be held one half hour prior and after the memorial service. Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., West Reading, is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.