Neal Schoen, born Cornelis Schoen in Sanpoort, Holland, was the eldest of six children. He immigrated to the United States in 1951 along with his parents and three siblings, settling in Artesia, California. Neal grew up raising cattle, and he belonged to the Future Farmers of America, showing his cattle at the Los Angeles Fair and other fairs in California. After graduating from Artesia High School in 1964, the family moved to Ridgefield, Washington.
Neal served in the U.S. Army and became a citizen of the United States while stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. After serving his term in the Army, Neal came home to Washington and enrolled at Western Washington University in Bellingham, graduating with a degree in accounting.
Neal married Paula in 1975, and they started their life together on a small farm in Ridgefield, Washington. Neal started raising cattle again and soon needed more space, and they moved to a larger farm in east Vancouver. They continued to expand their farm and their beef cattle business and also expanded their family with favorite daughter Denise and favorite son Tim.
Neal was a Clark County Fair Board member, Clark Cowlitz Farm Bureau Board member and a president of the Clark County Cattlemen's Association.
Neal is survived by wife Paula of 50 years of marriage; daughter Denise with Phil and son William; and son Tim with Sara and daughter Allison.
Neal is also survived by sister Angie Hanson; brothers Henry Schoen and Michael Schoen; sisters-in-law Rita and Marlene; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents Henk and Cornelia Schoen and brothers Leo Schoen and Marty Schoen.
Funeral Mass will be held on March 20, 2026, at 11 a.m., with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m., at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8701 NE 119th St., Vancouver, Washington 98662, with a reception lunch in the hall. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Ridgefield, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Clark County Fair Scholarship Fund; please mark it in reference to Neal's name and mail to 17402 Delfel Road, Ridgefield, Washington 98642; or donations to the Clark Cowlitz Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund, in his name, and mail c/o Anne Lawerence, 12609 NE 61st Place, Vancouver, Washington 98686.
