Neil Eugene Dorbecker

Neil Eugene Dorbecker, son of Melvin and Nellie, was born just after D-Day on June 9, 1944. Neil was raised in Indianapolis with his sister Linda (Cantwell) and attended North Central High School graduating in 1962. Following graduation, Neil joined the Rough Notes Company. As he learned the ways of Rough Notes he became interested in helping others and became a volunteer firefighter in 1976. After a few years as a volunteer he was hired on as a full time firefighter with the Pike Township Fire Department in 1979.

Over the years working at Rough Notes and as a fireman, the Dorbecker family expanded and the apple of his eye was born in March 1972: Michelle Angelique. Five years later, much to the consternation of Michelle, his son Jon Eric was born. Neil’s pride burst with joy over the years watching Michelle swim and Jon play soccer.

Neil always had a hobby to tinker and build. During his younger years he worked repairing lawn mowers, motorcycles and bicycles. His interest in building and repairing led him to dabble in and eventually start a general contracting business during his off days from the fire department. Over the years he remodeled several homes, bathrooms, kitchens and built several houses. You name it, he could figure out how to get it done.

His biggest dream was the building of his own house. In the early 1990’s he purchased 20 acres of farmland in Lebanon, IN, to begin the realization of his dream. Over the next several years he spent long days and nights toiling in the corn fields of his property building his self-designed farmhouse. After lots of blood, sweat and tears and few trips to the hospital, he finally completed his house in 1998 and moved out to the country. Out in the country he could do what he wanted, when he wanted and didn’t have to worry about neighbors complaining about loud saws and nail guns.

In 2006 he retired from the Pike Township Fire Department with 27 years of full-time service and 3 years as a volunteer. He continued his contracting business for the next decade but as the years worn on, and on him, he began plying his trade in the wood working business. He started small by building model planes and cars for needy children then moving on to building cabinets and furniture. He also built beds for just about every fire department in the greater Indianapolis area. His craftmanship in wood working filled several rooms in his house with chairs, dressers, desks, and entertainment centers.

He eventually closed up shop on his wood working business which left him with a lone job: grandfather…or as the grandchildren called him, “Poppy”. Neil became Poppy in 2004 with the birth of his first granddaughter Olivia in 2003 and his first grandson Cole in 2008. Few years later came his second and third granddaughters Kaitlynn and Leah.

On October 5, 2022 at age 78, the father of two and grandfather of four passed away surrounded by family. Visitation is on October 11 from 4-8pm at Flanner Buchanan Zionsville (https://flannerbuchanan.com/locations/zionsville/) with the funeral on October 12 at 10am. In lieu of flowers, Neil’s wish is for his friends and family who are able to make a donation to first responders and military families at the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at https://www.t2t.org.