NEIBLE
John Harrison Neible, age 87, went home to be with his Lord and Savior unexpectedly on October 20, 2024. He was born April 28, 1937, to John and Lydia (Markins) Neible in Garrett, Indiana. John graduated from Waterloo High School, Waterloo, IN, where he met Sharon Payton. He married her on January 28, 1956, and had four daughters over the course of the next eleven years.
The family settled in southern Michigan where John drove truck for a number of years and then began to sell cars for local car dealerships. In 1967, John began attending church with his family, where he came to a saving faith in Jesus that transformed his life. In 1980, John moved his family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, so he could attend the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music, after which he served as pastor at a church in Hopkins, Michigan for a time. He resided in the Grand Rapids area for the remainder of his life. Throughout his life, John was passionate about Jesus, people and cars. He loved Jesus and wanted the same for others.
He would often ask how he could be praying for people and would always check back in for updates on those requests, making it obvious that he had been praying over them. John also had a gift for welcoming people in a way that made them feel seen and loved and left them feeling like part of his family. He did not hold back on letting others know what they meant to him and the positive he saw in their lives. John also loved cars, especially the shiny Chevrolets he sold as a car salesman.
As a younger man, he had a different car every couple months and continued to provide advice and expertise to his children and grandchildren about their vehicles for many years. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sharon (Payton) Neible, and his four daughters, Kristi (Scott) Banta, Rebecca (Todd) Barsness, Kim (Brian) Hettinga, and Candace (John) Krugman; his grandchildren, Nick (Jaime) Banta, Katie (Josh) Brood, Johnathan Barsness, Matt (Kate) Banta, Jordan (Kara) Banta, Josh (Allie) Hettinga, Drew Barsness, Tim (Kelsey) Hettinga, Joe Barsness, Cortney Krugman, Hudson Barsness, Caleb Krugman, Demond Barsness and De’Shawn Barsness; as well as nineteen great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Judy Drerup, Sandra Ousley (Dan), Sharon Lee Neible; and many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lydia Neible; as well as his brother, Carson Neible; brother-in-law, Jack Drerup; and precious great granddaughter, Mina Grace Hettinga. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am on Monday, November 11, 2024, at Ada Bible Church Cascade Campus, 8899 Cascade Rd SE, Ada, MI 49301. Visitation and a light lunch with the family will follow the service.
