Neal Leroy Scott

Neal Leroy Scott was born on April 26th, 1938 to the late Clyde Ernest Scott and Edna Marie (Schroeder) Scott (Funk) in Sterling, Illinois. In the summer of 1942, Neal and his family moved to Mendota. Neal remembers having to get a drink of water, but could not reach the faucet, so he had to find a stool to stand on in order to get a drink. The house was a two-story with two bedrooms upstairs and located at 602 9th Avenue. The three boys (Ronald, Robert, and Neal) slept in the smaller bedroom on one double bed while the two girls (Phyllis and Shirley) had the larger bedroom with two beds. The family joined St. John's Lutheran church which was only one block away from their house. This church is where Neal was baptized into the Lutheran faith. In 1944, when Neal was only 5 years old, his father passed away. Growing up, the boys would often go to Lake Mendota to swim. His brothers taught him, so it was literally sink or swim. Bob also taught him how to ride a bike, but may have forgotten to teach him how to use the brakes. Neal always talked about ice skating with his brother, Bob. Their mom would pack them a lunch and tell them to be home before dark. Neal was always a very hard worker. He ran a paper route with about 50 - 75 customers. He remembered using his paper money at the Sears store where his mom signed him up to make payments on a brand new bike with saddle baskets and a front basket. When Neal was about 9 or 10, he went to work with his brothers at Mrs. Smith’s house. Mrs. Smith had an acreage about a mile west of where they lived. This included working in her vegetable garden, raking leaves, and cutting grass. Neal’s mother Edna married Chris Funk. They bought a house at 1902 Lincoln Ave across from the high school. While at the Lincoln Ave house, Neal’s baby sister, Norma Jean was born in 1947. In 8th grade, the elementary school was overfull, so Neal had to take 8th grade at the high school. On his first day at the high school, he was running in the hallway to get to his next class. All of a sudden someone grabbed his arm and pulled him against the lockers. It was Mrs. Potinger, the English teacher. Mrs. Potinger looked at him and said “We do not run in this school, oh my God, are you another Scott kid?” At 16, Neal saved enough money to buy a 1950 Chevy. The next year he bought a 1952 Indian Scout motorcycle. Around this time Neal met Tom Woods. Tom and Neal set pins at the bowling alley called Bowl Air in Mendota. Tom Woods introduced Neal to his cousin Jolane (Jody) Adams. Their first date was very good but ended in disaster. Neal’s car battery went dead listening to the radio. Time got late and Jody's parents called the police to find them. When they got back to the house Jody's parents were standing there. Neal got out of the car to apologize and Jody's mother, Burdette said “Get back in there and leave”. Later Jody told him her mother said “You are never going to see him again”. Burdette would end up calling him her #1 son-in-law (being the first) and treat him like her own. Neal and Jody were married on July 5, 1959, in Denison, Iowa at the Zion Lutheran Church. At first, Neal and Jody moved to Illinois to be where Neal had a good job with GTE in Chicago. However, this did not last long, as Jody wanted to be closer to her family. So, Neal found a job as a draftsman in the nearest big city, Omaha. Neal and Jody made a wonderful life in Omaha. He liked Omaha right away. Having grown up in a small town, Omaha had that feel, but also offered the opportunity to work like the bigger cities. Neal worked for various engineering firms throughout the Omaha area as a certified electrical engineer. He has his hand in many schools, hospitals, and power plants all around the area. One major highlight was traveling to Moscow to work with the Russian engineers on a power plant there. Neal was an amazing father to Tom and Susan. He was always involved with his kids' activities. He and his friend, Skip Stepanek were Boy Scout troop leaders. He was in softball and bowling leagues. Neal attended more dance recitals than you could possibly imagine. And he did it with love and joy. He was the world's best cheerleader for all his grandchildren; Chris (Liz), Katie (our littlest angel), Kim (Seth), Ally (Daniel), Scott, and Amelia. He loved seeing them grow their own lives. We know he will be cheering them on still. He loves you more. The End. In retirement, Neal loved to go on charity rides with his beloved Yamaha 1100 V Star. He always had a project he was working on. Many of us will treasure the results of those projects for the years to come. Neal passed very peacefully at home with his son Tom, his daughter Susan, and his wife of 64 years, Jody. Neal would want us to find and create every opportunity to continue to work hard and diligently. Neal L. Scott passed away at home in Elkhorn, Nebraska on Saturday, July 15th, 2023, at the age of 85. Neal is predeceased by his father Clyde, his mother Edna, his brothers Ron and Bob and his sisters Phyllis, Shirley, and Norma, and his granddaughter, Katherine Ann. Neal is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Jolane “Jody” Adams Scott. Neal will be remembered by his son Tom Scott and his wife Pam of Elkhorn, NE; daughter Susan Quint and her husband Sid of Bellevue, NE; grandchildren, Chris Scott and his wife Liz of Omaha, NE, Kim Shacklett and her husband Seth of Omaha, NE; Ally Quint and her fiance Daniel Covin of Sherman Oaks, CA; Scott Quint and Amelia Quint of Bellevue, NE; brother in law, Darrell Watkins of Maryland Heights, MO; sister in law Dori Brich and her husband Dave, of Dunlap, IA; brother in law Rick Conrad of Yuma, AZ; and so many treasured nieces and nephews, family and dear friends. Neal was born in Sterling, Illinois on April 26, 1938. He graduated from Mendota High School in 1957 and attended the Illinois Institute of Technology. He went on to work as a certified electrical engineer until his retirement in 2007. Neal enjoyed riding his motorcycle, camping, canoeing, and spending time with his family and friends. The visitation will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Reichmuth Funeral Home, 21901 W. Maple Road in Elkhorn, NE. The Celebration of Life and Interment will take place at the same address, on Friday, July 21, 2023, at 11:00 am. Luncheon to follow. Casual attire is fine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the family for a future designation.

Neal Leroy Scott

April 26, 1938 - July 15, 2023