Randy "RJ" Neeland
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Randall Joseph Neeland, 60, of Alanson, Michigan, died unexpectedly on August 21, 2021.
Randy or "R.J." as he was commonly known, was born on June 6, 1961, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, the son of Robert and Shirley (Tice) Neeland. He attended elementary school in Rosebush, Michigan, and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1979.
On September 12, 1981, he married the love of his life, Sue Huffman, at her father's church, the Church of the Nazarene in Clare, Michigan.
R.J. enrolled at Delaware Technical where he received his associate degree in Nursing. He took his first nursing job at Alma Hospital in 1989.
In 1990, he moved to northern Michigan to be closer to Sue's family and began working at Northern Michigan Hospital in the ICU. Over his 24 years at Northern Michigan Hospital, R.J. continued his education and moved through a few different roles, including Emergency Department, Risk Management and Vital Care. Most recently, he obtained a master's degree in Counseling from Spring Arbor and took a job at Thunder Bay Health Services where he was able to work with middle and high school students at Inland Lakes Schools. He was passionate about his career and was always looking for ways to help others.
In his spare time, R.J. loved being outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, kayaking, and 4-wheeling. One of his greatest hobbies was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.
R.J. was a deeply religious man and followed that calling as a preacher. He was a minister to the senior citizens at Independence Village in Petoskey and at the Church of God in Petoskey and most recently at the Church of the Nazarene in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
He will be remembered as someone who would always lend a hand, always had a smile on his face, and would do anything for those he loved.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sue Neeland of Alanson; his mother, Shirley Neeland of Rosebush; brothers, Edwin (Julie) Neeland of Rosebush and Ronald (Sandy) Neeland of Barryton; niece and nephews, Jordan Neeland, Logan Neeland, Rebecca (David) Haske, and Ryan (Ashleigh) Neeland; mother-in-law, Hazel Huffman; and by his faithful and loving Labradors, Hunter, Samson, and Katie.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Neeland; and his father-in-law, Rev. Raymond Huffman.
There will be a visitation at the Free Methodist Church in Wolverine (5751 Main St, Wolverine, MI 49799) from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 26, 2021, followed immediately by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Pastor Steve Evoy will officiate.
Burial will take place at Woodland Cemetery in Rosebush, MI on Friday, August 27, 2021, at 1:00 p.m.
Friends and family wishing to make a charitable donation are asked to give directly to R.J.'s family (c/o Sue Neeland) to cover their expenses during this difficult time.
Stone Funeral Home, Inc. of Petoskey is handling all arrangements.