My name is Matt, and I'm a good friend of Neil A. (Johnson) Kade, who we sadly lost on September 17, 2025 after a long and tough battle with cancer. Neil was an incredible person: a gifted scientist, talented brewer and Army veteran. But above all, he was a loving husband to Amy and father to Quinn and Kai.

Neil's long battle with cancer started in 2018 as bile duct cancer (Cholangiocarcinoma), a particularly rare form of the disease, which eventually started spreading and led to multiple surgeries. He went through many rounds of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and three clinical trials and, despite that, it spread to his lungs and brain. With Cholangiocarcinoma, only about 1% of people make it to 5 years from diagnosis, and we had about 7 years with him. Neil fought very hard, right up until the end.

This fundraiser is being set up to help Amy and her kids. There are memorial and funeral costs, Amy being out of work, and plenty of other family expenses. Any additional funds will be used for a college fund for Quinn and Kai.

On a personal note, I met Neil when our paths crossed in the craft beer world. I had just started my own beer project, Wandering Soul Beer, when I met Neil and he shared his story with me. We became friends, and I helped him to bring his own project, Gilded Skull Brewing & Blending, to life. I was so fortunate to be a part of Neil's life, learning from him about some bizarre brewing techniques and collaborating on several different beer releases.

Neil's legacy will continue onward through his family and his lasting impact on the community.

Thank you so much for helping Neil's family move forward. It truly means the world to Amy, to Neil and his kids.