Neva Jane Upp, age 91, died May 19, 2015, and is now safe in the arms of Jesus. She died at Walnut Court, Pleasant View Home, Inman. She was born July 15, 1923, in Blue Island, Illinois, to Wilbur and Neva (Moore) Manock, growing up in Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada.

Neva Jane graduated from Buffalo Seminary (High School), Buffalo, New York, in 1940, and from Wheaton College, Massachusetts, with a Bachelor of Arts in 1944. Neva Jane then was commissioned and served as a US Navy Intelligence Officer, in Washington, D.C., rising to the rank of Lieutenant JG.

She became an editor for Time-Life in Chicago, where she met Robert Ellsworth Upp, at a Christmas tree-trimming party. They were married December 29, 1948, during a Chicago blizzard. Then they lived in Boulder, CO and Kansas City, MO, before moving to Hutchinson. Robert passed away May 22, 2009.

Neva Jane joined Trinity United Methodist Church in 1952, where she served faithfully in many areas of the church. She served as a Sunday School teacher, youth group leader, lab-school teacher training other teachers all across the Kansas West Conference, a lay member of the annual conference, an active UMW member and officer, 10-year board member for UM Camp Horizon, Arkansas City, and a board member for Wesley Towers.

She also had an extremely active career as a community volunteer. She received many awards and recognition for her years of volunteer service to Hutchinson and various organizations, including the AAUW (Am. Assoc. of University Women), League of Women Voters, community concerts, precinct election officer, Republican Party, YMCA board member and Altrusa Club, Hutchinson Library volunteer and board member. Salvation Army of Hutchinson also benefited from her decades of service as she lived out her faith by helping those in need and serving as a board member, capital campaign co-coordinator for the new building, bell ringer and reliable volunteer. Neva Jane also taught knitting for years, and judged knitting at the state and county fairs until she was 86! Many years, she would knit over 200 hats and mittens to be given away.

She was a devoted, caring daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passing on to all of us solid faith, values and a love of learning. She loved to be with family! Neva Jane also loved to swim at the YMCA and celebrated her 90th birthday with a family swimming party at the YMCA. Travel was also an exciting part of her life; she had crisscrossed the U.S., Canada and traveled to 50 other countries.

Survivors include: son, the Rev. Dr. David Upp, Jabalpur, India; daughter, Sarah Neva Godbey (Rev. Dr. Jim), Dodge City; three grandsons, Corey Godbey (Marina), Wichita, Daniel Upp, United States Navy LCDR (Heather), Montevideo, Uruguay, Paul Godbey (Suzanne), Sydney, Australia; two granddaughters, Laura Neva Kurniadi (Henokh), Wichita, and Hannah Upp, U.S. Virgin Islands; eight great-grandchildren, Caleb, Melissa, Liam, Samantha, Jacob, Wesley, Aurora Mae Neva, and Alexander.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, husband, Robert, grandson, Christopher Upp, and a sister, Dorothy Manock.

Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2015, at Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Michael L. McGuire officiating. Private family burial will take place in Ottumwa, Iowa. Friends may sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Instead of flowers, memorials are suggested to Trinity UMC- Missions, or Hutchinson Public Library, both in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave condolences for Neva Jane's family