Stephen Neves

Our dear father and grandfather, Stephen Gratian Neves, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2018, at the age of 80.  He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 11, 1937, to Manuel Fernandez Neves and Agnes Kainapau Kea.  The third of 15 children-11 boys and 4 girls-he lived in Honolulu during the attack on Pearl Harbor.  After the war, the family moved to San Francisco, where Dad became a star athlete on the baseball and basketball teams at Sacred Heart and John O'Connell High Schools, earning all-state recognition for both sports.  Dad had a sweet golf game, winning numerous amateur golf tournaments using the Stone Age "snake killer" junk putter that he inherited from his father.
He served with distinction in the United States Army for five years, after which he began a successful 40-year career as a skilled HVAC technician, foreman, and superintendent.  His proudest accomplishment was receiving a special assignment from the U.S. Army Core of Engineers to serve as assistant HVAC superintendent at Ramon Air Base outside Jerusalem.  Dad moved the family with him to Israel in 1981-1982 and together they enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime.  Dad's special brew of grammatically suspect Hebrew-Hawaiian-Portuguese-Russian-German pidgin will be sorely missed.
Dad married the love of his life, Diane Laverne Venturi, on September 7, 1957, in Reno, Nevada.  Their love for each other was legendary - they were together for 61 beautiful years.  They raised their nine children in a happy home filled with faith, humor, laughter, the Jazz and the Yankees, the Idiot Game, Inspector Clouseau, watered-down milk, stuffed cabbage, and Dad's beloved crack seed.  In 1959, he made the joyous decision to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to raise his family in the Mormon faith.  This choice blessed many generations of the Neves clan in special ways that can't be measured.
He was incredibly devoted to his religion and was often found on his knees in prayer, or at the kitchen table studying the Bible or Book of Mormon.  He cherished his membership in the LDS church and served faithfully in many priesthood capacities, including as Elders Quorum President, High Priest Group Leader, and ordinance worker in the Provo Temple for a decade.  He felt honored to install the ductwork in many LDS temples, including Oakland and Los Angeles.  Dad left a remarkable legacy of faith, humble service, and loving discipleship.  His place in the annals of heaven is secure.
Dad was a wonderful father, devoted husband, and doting grandfather. He had the best smile on earth and was a truly happy person. His enthusiasm was infectious.  He emanated joy and lifted everyone who knew him. Dad made everyone feel special - he went out of his way to make personal connections with anyone who crossed his path.  He was the best Dad and Grandpa in the whole wide world and will be profoundly missed.  Yet we are blessed and comforted with the knowledge that, through our Savior, we will be a family forever.  Until we meet again, Dad…
He is survived by his wife, Diane; sons, Stephen Jr., David (Sabrina), Marc (Cheryl), Matthew (Greg), Joel (Lara), and Sean (Jessica); daughters, Christina, Gina (Jerry) McMillan, and Anne-Marie (Desmond) Williams; siblings, Monica, Richard, Fran, Bede, Gerard, Dennis, Anne, Anthony, Louie, Paul, Mary, and Celine; uncle, Ralph Neves; 29 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers (Manuel Jr. and William), and two grandchildren (Natalie and Trent).
Funeral services will be held on Dad's 81st birthday, Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at 11:00 am-with viewing prior from 9:45-10:45 am-at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Timpview 3rd Ward Chapel, 865 West, 1000 North, Orem, Utah.  Flowers should be delivered to the 3rd Ward Chapel by 9 am on December 11.  He will be interred in the Orem Cemetery.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help cover funeral and memorial expenses.