Neil Godar
Godfrey |
Neil J. Godar, 86, passed away Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at his home, surrounded by family.
He was born on April 4, 1939 to the late John and Anna (Ewen) Godar in Wood River, IL.
He married Nancy M. Bensman on August 1, 1964 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IL. They built their life together in Godfrey, IL and raised five children in their home. She preceded him in death in 2017.
He graduated from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton in 1957 and later earned an Associates Degree in Administration from Lewis & Clark Community College in Godfrey.
He worked in the healthcare system for 51 years. He began his career at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Alton in the kitchen at 16 years of age and worked his way up to Vice President of Personnel until it closed in 1989. He then became the Director of Human Resources at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL where he worked for 17 years until he retired in 2007.
He was a long-time member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. He dedicated himself to the Alton Knights of Columbus #460. He was a Fourth Degree lifetime member and spent much time assisting with community events, cooking for golf tournaments, collecting money for tootsie roll drives and volunteering for the popular Friday night fish fry's during Lent.
He was a part of the East End Improvement Association and judged multiple Halloween parade costumes over the years.
Neil and his family loved traveling to Durango, Colorado to visit family. He spent many days on the Pine River fishing with his father-in-law trying to catch “the big one.” He also enjoyed helping family and friends with any DIY project.
You could often find him at his wife’s side cheering on their grandchildren on the sidelines for sports games, clapping the loudest at music concerts and TNI (The Nature Institute) family days. They loved their family fiercely and never got tired of watching them do what they love.
He is survived by one son, Joseph (Denise) Godar; four daughters, Donna (Scott) Taul, Debbie Godar, Lisa (Carmon) Taylor, Cindy (Joel) Curry; seventeen grandchildren, Tyler and Ryan Godar, Nathan (Natalie) Taul, Kelsey (Nathan) Schulz, Dr. Jessica Taul, Jared Taul, Ashley (Sam) McKinney, Dr. Amber (Johnathan) Jordan, Christian Shank, Sabrina (Ben) Jones, Matthew Fairless, Morgan and Sydney Giron, Veronica (Jason) Counts, Anakin Taylor, and Austin and Hannah Curry; great-grandchildren, Oliver, Jack, Addy, Finley, Maddie, and Laura.
Also surviving are two sisters, Kathy (Clarence) Schneider, and Janice Molloy; brothers-in-law, John Canella, Walter "Terry" (Ginger) Bensman, and William "Bill" (Nancy) Bensman; sisters-in-law Bonnie (Bensman) Mills and Mary Lee Bensman. And many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his brothers Kenny, John “Jack” (Blenna “Blondie”) Godar; his sisters Mary Ellen (John) Yeager, Carol Cannella, Joyce (Ralph) Zerr, and Betty (Lawrence) Spahr; and brother-in-law Tim Molloy.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 26 at Gent Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at St. Ambrose Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 27 with Fr. Steve Janoski officiating. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Godfrey, IL.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in honor of one of his good friends, Mr. William “Bill” Maher.
Services have been entrusted to Gent Funeral Home in Godfrey. Additional information and online guestbook may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.
Gent Funeral Home
