- Date Of Birth: February 11, 1947
- Date Of Death: December 24, 2013
- State: Minnesota
Neil Jerome Amos, age 66 of Tower Minnesota, died peacefully at his home, on Tuesday December 24th 2013, after a long and courageous battle with prostate cancer. Neil was a well-known and respected member of the community and served as the volunteer Airport Manager for several years at the Tower Municipal Airport, where he owned and operated his avionics installation and repair station. Neil was an adventurous outdoorsman, with the energy and vitality of a man half his age. A pilot with over 5000 hours of flight time, his adventures took him all over the country, moose hunting and walleye fishing in Canada, Elk hunts out West, and exploring the beauty of the southwest with his family and friends. Neil’s passion was the sky.
Neil was born on February 11th, 1947 in South Saint Paul, the son of Orville and Angeline (Tinucci) Amos. He attended Simley High in Inver Grove Heights, and later attended Brown Institute where he studied electronics. In 1969, Neil enlisted in the US Navy, and served as a communications technician during the Vietnam War.
Neil’s began flying as a young boy with his father in Inver Grove Heights, and vacationing near Rice Bay on Lake Vermillion with his family, often traveling by air in their 1947 Stinson, the plane Neil learned to pilot. He carried his passion for flight into the military, and while he wasn’t able to fly for the Navy due to his eyesight, while serving he flew recreationally with the local flying club while stationed on Guam, obtaining his private pilot’s license. After his honorable discharge in May 1975, Neil married Eileen E. Yonker at Fort Mead, Maryland. Neil continued his service to the country as a civilian for six more years while residing in Baltimore Maryland. With Neil’s love of the north woods, and pursuit of a life that afforded him the freedom to fly and explore, Neil transitioned his family to Minnesota in the early 80’s. The family settled in Delano, Minnesota and Neil worked with Cargill for twenty years as a telecommunications expert, leading the way as the North American Telecommunications Manager, in satellite communications. During his career, Neil continued the pursuit of his dream to operate an avionics shop and fly full time, opening his installation and repair station in Clear Lake, MN in the early 90’s. In 2000, he and his wife, Eileen, relocated to the beautiful waters of Lake Vermillion, just a mile from his childhood cabin. Neil took joy in his home and life with family and friends, where days often included weekend hunting trips with his son, afternoon plane rides with his grandson, family and friends, and an evening boat rides to do a little fishing and go for pizza, always appreciative of the beauty and bounty that surrounded him. Neil volunteered his time and plane to give plane rides for Veteran residents at the Veterans on the Lake resort on Fall Lake, Ely, an activity he took great joy in. He was also a member of the Tower American Legion and active member of the local Ducks Unlimited, volunteering his time to support the annual banquet. Neil was also fundamental in organizing annual Cat Island Seaplane Safety Seminar in Canada.
Neil is survived by his wife of 37 years, Eileen Amos; daughter: Carolyn (Casey) Storey of Portland, OR; son: Matthew (Emily) Amos of Baxter, MN; grandson: Benjamin Neil Amos; sisters: Donna (Bill) Tix of Randolph, MN, Patricia (Joe) Silva of Thousand Oaks, CA, Betty Amos of San Diego, CA, Vera (Gene) Sherman of Billings, MT, Roxanne Butler of Franktown, CO; niece: Kim (Dean) Weber; nephew: Mike (Becky) Tix; extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
