Neil Trobak, 82, of Carroll, died Monday, December 8, 2014 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, following complications of a hematoma.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2014, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll. Officiating will be Pastor Brian Licht. Organist will be Tami Biggerstaff. Casket Bearers will be Neil’s grandsons: Brian Happe, Mike Happe, Josh Happe, Jason Happe, Jake Happe, Andy Happe, Matt Happe, Dan Happe, Aaron Walker, Derek Walker, Tim Von Arb, Jon Von Arb, and Kenny Von Arb. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Thursday, where there will be a Prayer Service at 7 p.m.
The casket will be moved to St. Paul Lutheran Church at 9 a.m. on Friday where visitation will resume until time of the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the Carroll Area Child Care Center.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Neil’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Neil Ivan was born on July 6, 1932 at Crooks, South Dakota the son of Nels and Lillian (Larsen) Trobak. He attended school in Crooks and later graduated from Augustana College in 1954. Neil served in the United States Marines from 1954 to 1956 and after his honorable discharge attended and graduated from Brown Institute, a radio-training school in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In May of 1957 he moved to the Carroll community where he began his career with Carroll Broadcasting. While employed at the radio station he served in many capacities. “The Voice” of Carroll Radio, Neil did sportscasting, newscasting, and was general manager for 13 years. In his later years with the station, Neil was known as “the F&F guy” announcing farm and funeral information in the mornings and afternoons.
On June 23, 1990 Neil was married to Joan Presnell Happe at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll.
Neil will also be remembered for his public service to the Carroll community being active as a County Supervisor and also served on the Carroll Area Child Care Center Board, Carroll Area Development Board, Region 12 Council of Government Board, Emergency Management/911 Board as well as various other boards.
In his spare time Neil enjoyed playing cards and golfing with his many friends at the Carroll Country Club. Neil was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll.
Neil is survived by: his wife Joan of Carroll; his stepchildren: Richard Happe of Brooklyn, Susan Happe of Carroll, David (Chris) Happe of Ames, Cynthia Happe of Columbia, MO, Joseph (Betsy) Happe of Urbandale, Douglas (Barbara) Happe of Omaha, and Debra Happe of Des Moines; his daughter-in-law, Teri Happe of Ankeny; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; his sister: Marjorie Trobak of Sioux Falls, SD; his sister-in-law: Mardean Trobak of Sioux Falls, SD; as well as other extended relatives and many friends.
Neil was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law: Wade and Isabel Presnell; his step-son, James Happe; his brother Dale Trobak; and a brother in infancy; and his brother-in-law, James Presnell.
