Neils, Henry J., 1896-1988.

Henry Julius Neils was born at Sauk Rapids, Minnesota on April 29, 1896, the son of Julius Ferdinand Bernhard Neils (1855-1933) and Mary Catherine Geiger (1857-1949). The family moved to Cass Lake, Minnesota in 1900, where his father started the J. Neils Lumber Company.

In 1917, Henry began work at the Flour City Ornamental Iron Company as a tractor mechanic. He retired as Chairman of the Board and Chief Operating Officer in 1964. Meanwhile, Neil also started the Alumacraft boat company, as a division of the Flour City Ornamental Iron Company, and later, Champion Motors Company. Flour City Ornamental Iron Company was sold to the Hupp Corporation, and later the Seagrave Corporation in 1965.

Neils was active in religious, civic, and cultural groups in Minneapolis, including Trinity Lutheran Church, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Hennepin County Historical Society, the Exchange Club, the Rotary Club, and the Gyro Club. He served on the boards for Concordia College from 1941-1959, and Valparaiso university from 1928-1934. Henry received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia College in Saint Paul in 1962. He also served on the War Production Board during World War II and the Board of Directors of Midland National Bank from 1944-1969.

He married Frieda Mary Tatzleff in 1918. They had three children, Mary Louise (May 17, 1919), Henry Eugene (Bob) (March 5, 1922), and Elizabeth Patricia (Pat) (May 19, 1927). Henry Neils died March 2, 1988 in Palm Desert, California and is buried in Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.

From the guide to the Papers., 1911-2005., (Minnesota Historical Society)