Michael Neuman

Michael Ray Neuman, age 71, of Southern California, previously Campbell, MN, passed away on July 22, 2023.  His memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 21, 2023, at Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home, Breckenridge, MN.  Shanna Grumbles will officiate.  Burial to take place at Riverside Cemetery in Campbell.  

Michael Ray Neuman was born on July 23, 1951, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Raymond and Dorothy (Smith) Neuman.  He grew up in Campbell, MN, where he also attended school.  After graduation, Michael would then attend Moorhead State College for 2 years.

In 1971, he was united in marriage to Gayle Kathleen “Misty” Thompson, and they were blessed with 3 children.  The couple would make their home on a communal farm in the rural Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. During this time, they were introduced to Ozark folk music, instrumentalizing and singing with other talented musicians on the farm.  This eventually led to the forming of a band called Mountain Magic.  During this time, Michael would return to school and get his LPN degree.

In the fall of 1981, he took a leave of absence from nursing and bought a 30-foot school bus that he would convert into an RV, and would end up accompanying the migrant crew to southern Wisconsin to pick apples on a commercial orchard.  When he returned to Arkansas, he became a manager at the largest restaurant in Mountain Home, AR. 

In 1988, he returned to nursing and was employed by the regional hospital in Mountain Home.  Through the hospital, he was able to obtain his RN degree from the University of Central Arkansas.

After his divorce in 1990, he met Courtney Caldwell, who would become his life partner up until his passing.  During that time, he and Courtney would take many worldwide vacations to Mexico, Tahiti, Great Britain, Hawaii, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Aruba, Curacao, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

In 2017, they both retired to enjoy life together a mile from the beach.  Michael would then resume his music hobby, producing 4 CDs for friends and family to enjoy.  He wrote a lengthy, but not yet published novel called “Lord of the Dawn”.  He was also an avid genealogist, inspired by his maternal grandparents, with an extensive family tree on the Ancestry.com website.

Michael is survived by his life partner, Courtney Caldwell; children, Andre Simon Neuman, Pandora Angelique Neuman, and Rainbow Skye Otto; grandchildren, Aiden Michael Neuman, Mikayla Starflower Otto, and Matthew Isaac Otto; siblings, Cynthia (Steve) Armstrong, Jeffrey (Judy) Neuman; Terry Neuman, Kimberly (Bradley) Pauly, Kristi (Doug) O’Neill; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Dorothy.