Neale B. Penfold, 93, of Eureka, passed away at Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center on Friday, October 2, 2026, with family by his side.

Neale was born on December 27, 1932, in Hagerman, Idaho, a late Christmas present for his parents, Stanley and Eva Penfold. Hagerman is a small community in the Snake River Valley and home of the Snake River’s famous Thousand Springs. Neale always expressed appreciation for the opportunity to grow up experiencing an idyllic Tom Sawyer style of life, growing up in small-town Idaho. He raised his own four children with the same spirit and enthusiasm. Neale was a good student and loved sports, playing football, baseball and basketball at Hagerman High School.

Neale attended engineering school at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he met Darlene, the love of his life, at the Idaho Club and married her in 1954. After a program that required five years of intensive study, Neale graduated in 1956, with the first graduating class of BYU’s engineering school. Of the 80 who began the program, only 5 graduated. After graduation, Neale was immediately hired by the Los Angeles County engineering department and worked there until transferring to the Monrovia engineering dept. In 1961, he moved his family to Eureka. He remained part of the Eureka community for the rest of his life.

A civil engineer, he owned Neale B. Penfold Professional Civil Engineering in Eureka for more than 55 years. Throughout those years he took on many local projects and was known for a creative, common-sense way of working through complicated problems. Throughout his career, Neale had a passion for engineering and enjoyed working with many businesses, contractors, developers, and others in accomplishing a huge variety of projects. He always appreciated the relationships that were formed and was grateful to be able to provide a service while doing what he loved.

Neale and his wife, Darlene, recently marked their 72nd wedding anniversary. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved adventure and was an avid motorcyclist, taking trips throughout the world, many of them with Darlene on the seat behind him. He also loved boating, waterskiing, camping, and sharing that enthusiasm with family and friends. He worked hard and played harder. He loved life and was always ready to try something new. Over the years he became skilled at photography, woodworking, and whatever else he set his mind to. He made friends easily and took pleasure in helping others.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene J. Penfold of Eureka; his children, Stanley Penfold of Salt Lake City, Utah, Laura Roberts and her husband David of Mapleton, Utah, Scott Penfold and his wife Carrie of Eureka, and Lisa Penfold of Salt Lake City, Utah; 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; his brother, Garn Penfold of Colorado; and his sister, Ann Cooper of Hagerman, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his brother, Doyle Penfold.

The family is grateful for the friendship and kindness shown to Neale over many years and is eternally grateful to the wonderful people at Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness Center for their kind and loving care of Neale over the last two years. The family also extends gratitude and appreciation for the care Neale was provided by Hospice of Humboldt County.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2026, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel, 2806 Dolbeer Street, Eureka. A luncheon will follow. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. at Ocean View Cemetery.