Retirees Association

Herbert T. Neve, 86, Professor of Religon

Dr. Herbert T. Neve, age 86, of Centerville, passed away June 12, 2017 in Hospice of Dayton.

He was born March 15, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA the son of Herbert and Signe (Aspesater) Neve. Herbert Neve graduated from Everett High School, in Everett, WA.

In 1953 he earned a B.A. in Classics from Pacific Lutheran University. After earning a Bachelor of Theology from Luther Theological Seminary he entered the University of Heidelberg in Germany where he earned a Ph.D in Theology.

His career began at the University of North Dakota where he started a new religion department and served as campus pastor. In 1964 Dr. Neve took on a teaching appointment at the Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University. In 1968 he began a four-year position in Geneva, Switzerland with the Lutheran World Federation.

In 1972 Dr. Neve taught in the department of religion of Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1996.

He served as interim pastor for the Lutheran Church of America until 2000. He married Eleanor Hansen in 1955. They divorced in 1973. An accomplished musician, other interests included travel, camping, cars, and hiking.

He loved his family and friends. Most important, he held a life-long commitment to serve God. He is survived by two daughters, Gretcen Neve of Chicago Illinois, Sonja Godlewski of Brookfield, Illinois, one grand-daughter, Natalie Amelia Brizzolara of Berwyn, Illinois, and his sister, Marie Rothman of Vicksburg, Mississippi.