Richard “Shakey” Neumann
November 8, 1941 - July 8, 2021
Richard “Shakey” Neumann, age 79, of Newark, DE, passed peacefully on Thursday, July 8, 2021, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Originally from Osceola, WI, Shakey landed in Newark, DE, where he met the love of his life, Sandra Chann, after completing a 4-year tour in the United States Navy. He provided a wonderful life for his family by working as an electrician at Chrysler for 37 ½ years. In his retirement, Shakey became a master gardener, with gardens at home, St. Nicholas’ Church, and Holy Family R.C. Church.
He never met a yard sale or flea market that he didn’t like and delighted in finding great deals, as well as bargains that he could share with family, friends, and neighbors. Shakey enjoyed discovering treasures of all kinds and loved to go hunting with his metal detectors, particularly if he had the opportunity to search areas of historical significance.
Shakey developed a love for walking that later became a Fitbit addiction, and was very proud to have reached his 40 millionth step (16,506 miles and 6,129 floors!) on his 8-year-old Fitbit account. He dedicated many hours as a volunteer at Holy Family R.C. Church, working at the Hope Garden Center, the yearly Summerfest events, and the Parish Outreach food pantry.
Shakey was a loving and devoted Poppi who found great joy in playing with his 4-year-old granddaughter.
Shakey was preceded in death by his mother, Leona Martell Neumann; father, George Neumann; brother, James Neumann; sister, Lucille Neumann Keller; mother-in-law, Nellie Chann; father-in-law, George Chann; brother-in-law, David Chann; and sister-in-law, Patricia Trout.
He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 52 years, Sandy Neumann; son, Brian Neumann (Catherine Pomeroy); daughter, Tracy Howell (Jim); sister, Terri Benik of Weyerhauser, WI; sister, Carol Neumann (Dave Yost) of Williams Bay, WI; sister-in-law, Maxine Lewis (Parvin) of Bridgeton, NJ; and five grandchildren, Kara Neumann, Jacob Neumann, Paul Pomeroy, Julia Pomeroy, and Peyton Howell.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 pm on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at Holy Family R.C. Church, 15 Gender Road, Newark, DE, 19713, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 12 pm. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 2 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Holy Family R.C. Church, designated for the Hope Garden, a program dear to his heart, at the address listed above.
Cissy Howell
Shakey will be SO greatly missed! He was such a gentle, kind person. He always came in our back door bearing flowers or books he thought might interest me. The first time I met him he was helping my son bury his cat. My son became his son-in-law. Rest well, Shakey. You will always have a special place in our hearts.
Kitty Figliola
Dear Gran, Brian, Tracy,
Dan and I are so sorry for your loss.
Shakey had touched so many lives.
So many memories from him dressing up as Santa Claus for our kids, sharing treasure hunting tips and if there was anything you enjoyed from reading certain authors’s books to electronics he could find it for you.
He will be missed by so many. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Take care.
Heike Clouse
Dear Sandy and Family. Deepest condolences on them loss of dear Richard. My love and prayers are with you
Rita Garland
I watched from my desk at the Religious Ed. Office as Richard walked to the Hope Garden many days. He would proudly show me how the veggies were growing. A very, very nice man. He will be missed.
Carl W. Rainear
Condolences Sandy and Family
In the loss of Shakey
Remember the Good Times to carry you thru this time of Sorrow
Sorry for you great loss
Parvin and Maxine Lewis
In his quiet and calm way, Shakey was a people-person and was a friend to all. We have been blessed to have had Shakey in our family for over fifty years. We miss him.
Bobbie Jefferson
Simply put, Richard Neumann was a GOOD man. Hardworking, so very generous with his time and anything you might mention you needed, friendly, easy and interesting to talk with, knowledgeable and well read on so many subjects.
I have been friends with Sandy for over 46 years, and I always enjoyed talking with “Shakey “ whenever I was in their home.
I will dearly miss those talks and his presence with us.
Rest well, Shakey! You richly deserve it.
Linda
Richard will be greatly missed. I got to know him as a caring neighbor. Every morning (pre Covid) I would see him walking making sure anyone’s news paper was place by their door. He would take trash cans up to the house for any one that needed help. He was always available to help anyone if they needed it. Todd Estates has lost a great neighbor. Prayers to his wife an family for you loss
Jill Nigro
My love and prayers go out to Aunt Sandy, family and friends. I will miss my Uncle Shakey. He was a good friend, sharing his plants each spring and usually adding something interesting to try-this year tie up clips. He was kind and generous. I am blessed to have him as my uncle.
Vernon Dennis
Dear Sandy,
Very sorry to hear about Richard.
He will be missed.
Take care of yourself.
Vernon Dennis (Retired from Chrysler)
Laura Collins
To the Neumann family: You have my deepest sympathy for your loss. Mr. Neumann was my neighbor who always was willing to help me out with something ,enquiring about my health and sharing his garden produce. I will miss him. RIP Richard !
Nada Jones
Richard was a man who touched so many lives. Generous, kind, gentle, humble, clever and hard working: These are all words that describe Richard. He spent many hours quietly doing for others in his community. He never sought recognition and praise…. He just wanted to help all he met and always made others feel welcome. If there was a problem at Hope Garden, he would waste no time trying to solve it in some clever way. He loved to share his farming knowledge with others at Hope Garden and at St. Nicolas Community Garden. Richard was always on the hunt for some new gardening book or interesting tool for us to use. During Summerfest at Holy Family, he always “unofficially” volunteered for clean-up detail (a thankless job). Everynight of Summerfest, he would be the first on scene to begin emptying the trash cans and pick up litter. Richard truely lived to serve others as Jesus taught. God willing, his spirit will live on in all those he knew.
jeffery c burnett
i had the oppertunity to work with shakey in the mid 80s on the stud gun line.i knew nothing about it.he tought me so much he was always soft spoken,and in the 30 plus years i,ve known him i never see him get upset, he was allways calm.everyone in the body shop that knew shakey always had nothing but good things to say. he was the KEY man in the body shop,,thats why we called him shakey. all the guys in the body shop at chrysler..sadly missed
Mary Beth Kessler
I was so saddened to hear about Richard’s passing. He was a wonderful man, and a terrific gardener; I learned so much from him at the Hope Garden.