Mary Eleanor (Mariel) Neu obituary

Mary Eleanor (Mariel) Neu, associate professor emerita of art, died Nov. 15. She was 76.

Neu joined the staff in 1968 and retired in 2004 after 36 years of service. She devoted her life to teaching and inspiring creativity in others.

The Mattawan, Michigan, resident prepared numerous students for their art teaching careers, and colleagues note that her classroom in the basement of the old Sangren Hall was always full of student art projects.

Neu was a native of Iowa. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1962 and Master of Fine Arts in 1968, both from Drake University.

Remembrances

The family obituary and guestbook are available at michigancremation.com.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Planetary Society at planetarysociety.org or to a charity of choice.

Services

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, in the First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St. in Kalamazoo. Refreshments will be provided following the service.

Interment will be in Iowa. A celebration of Neu's life will be held in that state at a later date.