Sondra Neary, 87, longtime resident of Atlantic, Iowa, died Friday, June 4, 2021, in Omaha.
She was the daughter of Orville and Ruth (Swanson) Bridges. Sondra was born in Klemme, IA on February 1, 1934. She grew up in Klemme and during high school she clerked part time at the local grocery store. Sondra graduated high school in 1951. Following graduation, she moved to Mason City, IA and worked in a bank; later living and working in Waterloo, IA.
On August 24, 1957, Sondra married R. Clark Neary, a teacher in Klemme. They had one daughter, Colleen. They lived in Klemme, and later moved to Mason City, IA, before moving to Atlantic, IA. Clark was a teacher in Atlantic for most of his career.
Sondra was totally devoted to her family and being a homemaker. She was a wonderful baker and cook, and loved to collect and try recipes from magazines and newspapers. Colleen and Clark jokingly referred to these new recipes as having “experiments” for supper. She was a talented seamstress and made many of her daughters’ and her own clothes for many years. Sondra passed her love of baking, cooking and sewing to her daughter and they shared those hobbies over the years.
Sondra had a great love of music and dancing all her life; attending numerous concerts through the years and as a young adult, weekend nights were spent going to area dances.
Sondra worked several years at a business in Atlantic running a large industrial machine that could embroider 12 items at one time. She embroidered company logos on hats, t-shirts, and jackets. After retiring, she volunteered many years delivering Meals on Wheels. She also was a volunteer cook at the Matthews House Daycare at First United Methodist Church, where she was a long-time member. Sondra enjoyed the ladies circle at church, helping with funerals and other church activities.
Sondra is survived by her daughter, Colleen of Omaha; sister, Carol (Roger) Terhufen of Bettendorf IA; sister-in-law, Mary Neary of Des Moines, IA; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.
She was preceded in death by husband, Clark in 1999, her parents, and other close relatives.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 12th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. Burial will be in the Atlantic Cemetery. No visitation is planned.
Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for Sondra’s family and her arrangements.
