Obituary for Scott Thomas Neff

Scott Thomas Neff, 71, of Waukee, Iowa, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

Scott was born on April 23, 1955 in Cedar Rapids to James and Carol (Crough) Neff. Scott spent the first few years of his life living in Cedar Rapids and Maquoketa before his family moved to Dubuque. After graduating from Wahlert High School in 1973, Scott enlisted in the U.S. Navy from 1974 to 1978 where he served as an electronics technician aboard the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War.

Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, Scott attended the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor's degree in business. Throughout his career in computer hardware and software sales, Scott developed countless meaningful relationships, many of which grew into lifelong friendships.

Scott enjoyed sports and was an avid Hawkeye fan. He attended hundreds of football games and had attended games at every Big Ten stadium. He considered tailgating a finely tuned operation and packed accordingly, bringing along everything he could possibly need and then some. His daughters loved to tease him about this, but no one ever complained when he turned out to have a bungee cord, giant bugle or marshmallow shooter when you needed one.

Scott also had a lifelong love of travel, including train travel throughout the United States, Europe, Australia and Canada. Few people are fortunate enough to experience as much of the world as Scott did, and he made it a priority to share those experiences with his daughters, creating cherished memories through countless adventures during their childhood. Over the years, Scott made it to 32 countries on six continents. While his travel adventures had slowed down over the last few years, he took great pleasure in sharing his journeys with his fellow residents at Independence Village with his “ticketless travels” presentations.

Scott loved music and rarely met a genre he didn't appreciate. Over the years, he took his daughters to countless concerts and music festivals, sharing with them his love of music. At family gatherings, he was the unquestioned DJ, always ready with the right song for the moment. His passion for music was rivaled only by his love of organizing information. On one occasion, his sister spotted a massive three ring binder containing his extensive song catalog, meticulously alphabetized by both title and artist, and briefly suspected that he was launching a karaoke business. Whether at family celebrations or as the resident DJ in the lobby at Independence Village, Scott set the vibe with his music.

Scott lived life to its fullest, embracing adventures, experiences, and the people who made those moments meaningful. He taught his daughters to work hard, always give their best effort, and find joy along the way. He was always ready with words of encouragement, thoughtful advice, or a joke that was uniquely his own. He built lasting friendships wherever he went, he cared deeply for family and friends alike, and he will be greatly missed by everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

Scott is survived by his daughters, Shannon (Jeremy) Neff-Muell of Casey, IA and Briana (Steven) Gillette of Grimes, IA; five grandchildren, Carter Neff, Cecilia Muell, Adeline Muell, Peyton Gillette, and Campbell Gillette; his former spouse, Debora Linquist of Waukee, IA; his siblings, Susan (Steve) Chapman of Dubuque, IA, Mark (Karen) Neff of Bondurant, IA, Mary (Steve) Hong of Rathdrum, ID, Shawn Neff of West Des Moines, IA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, James H. Neff; his mother, Carol A. Neff; and his brother, Michael Neff.

Memorial Service with military honors will be held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, 34024 Veterans Memorial Dr, Adel, IA, on Friday, September 11^th at 9:30am. Please join us for a tailgate luncheon and yard games following the memorial service at the Waukee Community Center, 675 Walnut St, Waukee, IA. Please come ready to share your favorite Scoots stories and be sure to wear your black and gold!