Harding lost an influential and inspirational man when Ken Neller died on Jan. 10 from a massive heart attack. While most students had not returned to campus by the time of his death, a chapel service was hosted in his honor on the first day of class.
Ken Neller’s absence is still felt in the Harding community. Students and faculty remembered fond memories of Neller as a professor, minister, husband and friend.
“Ken was a man of tremendous integrity,” said Dr. Daniel Stockstill, a friend of Neller since they were club brothers together. “He wanted no credit for himself. He wanted all credit for God and he wanted his influence (to be) as God’s servant.”
Stockstill said he and Neller leaned on each other for support in their own ministries. Their friendship grew through the years.
Daniel and Cindee Stockstill and Ken and Barbara Neller became a “foursome,” according to Stockstill. Stockstill’s children called Ken Neller “uncle.”
Neller’s main goal in life was to extend the hand of God through ministry and through the way he interacted with and loved the people around him.
“He knew that a ministry was not an event but a lifestyle and he knew that a mistake or a stumble was damaging but was not failure,” Stockstill said.
Neller’s ministry could be seen in his interaction with his students, who said his doors and arms were always open, and in his desire to help anyone in need. Stockstill said Neller loved to do favors for others and slip away before anyone could give him any credit.
Another important facet of Neller’s life was his relationship with his family, especially his wife, Barbara. Stockstill said that Ken and Barbara Neller embodied everything it meant to be a Christian couple and a Christian family.
Junior Jason Johnson attended Harding University in Greece with Ken and Barbara Neller. He said that it was evident how devoted they were to each other.
“Their relationship was God-founded but was very focused on each other,” Johnson said. “They were the prime example of a relationship.”
Barbara Neller said that she and Ken were married for 38 and a half years and dated for four years before they married.
“We raised each other,” she said.
Barbara Neller said she felt very blessed by her marriage and the family she and Ken built together.
Stockstill also remembered Ken Neller’s work with the Downtown Church of Christ, where he worked as a part-time minister. Stockstill said Neller worked hard for his congregation and served the members with integrity, honesty and faithfulness.
“He viewed himself as a faithful servant and perhaps that is his legacy,” Stockstill said. “Faithful servants point to their master and inspire more servants to be faithful.”
Johnson remembered one of Neller’s devotionals about Philippians. The lesson throughout the devotional, and perhaps throughout Neller’s life, was that “Our joy isn’t here; it’s waiting for us.”
