Horses ferry Hills horseman down long, lonesome trail

Posted on Nov 07, 2009 by Admin.

Harol Neuzil prepares to lead a pair of horses for the funeral procession of his father, Paul Neuzil, outside St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hills on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. The longtime farmer and horseman died on Tuesday at age 82. (Chris Earl/KCRG-TV9)

HILLS — Paul Neuzil spent most of his life working the land near Riverside and Hills, but his true passion was horses.

Just last year, he captured first place in the draft horse competition at the Iowa State Fair.

He also loved the people, especially children, those horses and his personality attracted.

Both passions were evident Saturday in downtown Hills as family, friends and neighbors paid their last respects at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Hills. Neuzil died Tuesday at 82 after a battle with cancer.

“He had a away with people,” said daughter Catherine Hurley of Iowa City.

After the funeral Mass, Harold Neuzil of Oxford, another of Neuzil’s nine surviving children, stepped into a carriage to lead a pair of horses on a procession for his father.

Hundreds of people followed. Horses, their riders wearing Western hats, lined the street in front of the church.

Harold Neuzil put

the horses into motion, and smiles emerged from tears. Toddlers and children stood and stared.

As the procession pulled away, with cars, trucks and SUVs following the horses, Hurley called up a memory of her father.

“If it would be a beautiful, sunny day like this, I know Dad would say, ‘We have to hitch up the horses, Catherine.’

“It’s a perfect day for Dad to say goodbye.”

-By Chris Earl, KCRG-TV9 News