Rex Alden Neiger

Rex was born on May 25, 1936, in Tillamook, Oregon, to Ulrich and Alice Neiger where he grew up in a loving home. His parents owned and operated a Dairy Farm for many years. He was the second child and the first boy. He had an older sister and a younger sister. Growing up he was active in 4-H and Boy Scouts. When he was 14 years old, his parents sold the dairy farm and moved across the state to Nyssa, Oregon, which is located on the Snake River and on the border between Oregon and Idaho. He graduated from Nyssa High School where he lettered in basketball and baseball and was sports editor on the school newspaper. During the summer he worked on a hay baler for local farmers and after school in a grocery store. He attended college at Oregon State and in the summers worked at Crater Lake as a Bell Hop for four years. That is where he met his future wife, Carol, whom he married in 1959. They had a loving and wonderful marriage for 67 years. Three months after he and Carol married in June of 1959, he left for Basic Training at Ford Ord in California for two months. He then was sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama, for Active-Duty training for helicopter aircraft maintenance for four months. He then returned to Oregon State to finish his college education where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. His education was also completed with a Master of Science in Education majoring in Counseling at Western Oregon, and he completed the required Credentials for School Administration at the University of Oregon.

All his teaching career was with the Salem Public Schools. Starting at Washington Elementary where he was a sixth-grade teacher for nine years. The Elementary Superintendent asked him if he was interested in being a School Principal as they had a school for him the coming year if he was interested. He decided to take advantage of the offer and the opportunity. He spent his entire career, 32 years with Salem/Keizer, working in the Elementary School atmosphere with young students, teaching staff, and parents. All of whom had a love and great respect for him. He was a Teaching Principal at Rosedale, Hazel Green, and Clear Lake. He spent one year as the Counselor at West Salem. He served as Elementary Principal at Swegle, Scott, and Sumpter.

He coached Little League Baseball and Y Basketball when his son was growing up. He was a loving and supportive father to his two children, Tami and Steve–raising them to be successful and caring adults.

When not working, Rex enjoyed spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, walking at Minto Brown Park, bird watching, and participating in recreational sports as a young adult. He played on a church league in basketball and a city league in baseball. He spent a great deal of time on his yard which was beautiful. After retirement in 1992, he filled in at schools as a Principal and at one school he was the Monday Principal for half a year.

As a family, they spent many wonderful trips camping. While the children were still home, the family took a driving trip for a month around the US. He was a wonderful father and his family was very important to him. Many trips taken in his later life were trips taken with family. He was a member of the Trinity Covenant Church.

He and his wife spent a lot of time at their condo at Otter Crest. They loved spending time together and traveled to Hawaii many times, Mexico, Canada, Europe, and over the US. They cruised the Western Caribbean, the South Pacific, and Alaska. For the 50th anniversary, they cruised in the Scandinavian countries and Russia.

He was a big supporter of Oregon State University with season tickets to football, basketball, and gymnastics. Go Beavs!

In 2018 he and Carol moved to Capitol Manor.

He is survived by his wife, Carol, and his two children Tami and her husband Mike, his son Steve and his wife Solvei, and his grandson Joel. He was predeceased by his parents and his two sisters Barbara and Janelle.

Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service.

Rex suggests that his “Duck” Friends contribute to the Oregon State Athletic Fund! OSU Foundation: 4238 SW Research Way, Corvallis, OR 97333

Remembrances in his memory may be made to Oregon State Gymnastics Team, Corvallis, Oregon.

An Educated Man is one that is wise about many things and say nothing about it.