Scott Engdahl

Scott Engdahl, 59, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, March 20 at 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Columbus with Pastor Ollie Fullmer officiating. Family interment will be in Columbus Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and continue on Friday from 10:00 AM until service time at the church.

Scott Dana Engdahl was born on April 20, 1966 in Lawton, Oklahoma, to Jerry and Glenna (Thomsen) Engdahl. He was immediately transferred to Oklahoma City because of a birth defect, hydrocephalus. His parents were told to abandon him as he would only survive 2-3 months. After a search, they found a surgeon who agreed to install a shunt to prevent his head from increasing in size. The shunt saved his life. In his early years there were problems and adjustments but from age 10 until recently he lived a normal life, selling Christmas cards, graduating from Columbus High School and then riding his moped to Platte College where he earned an Associate Degree, traveled the western United States singing with Choral Music group, and met life-long friends.

He moved out on his own at the age of 21 and started working, first several years at Russ’s Super Foods and later, more than 15 years at McDonalds. His friendly customer service was recognized by both businesses. Before ‘retiring’, he enjoyed working at HyVee. He invested $50 every month he was employed and was proud to own and maintain his own home for 19 years. Later, Scott moved into an apartment in order to socialize with others.

Scott enjoyed traveling. He made friends with strangers wherever he went. He made several trips with his parents, including Phoenix, Mackinac Island, Atlantic City, California, Florida, New Orleans, and several northeastern states. His mom and sister traveled with him to Chicago to see Billy Joel and where he engaged with Scotty Pippen in a restaurant. He also vacationed with his sister to New York City.

Scott’s main love was music. He played his Alexa quite often, accumulated hundreds of CDs and DVDs, attended several concerts, and played the piano for patients at Nye Legacy Rehab three days before he was hospitalized.

He will be greatly missed by; his parents Jerry and Glenna Engdahl; brother Troy (Nicole) Engdahl and daughters Bailee and Taylor; sister Heather (Jamie) Storey and their children, Michael and Madison Storey and son Gibson, Elle Storey and her friend Karter, Tyler Storey; 9 Aunts and Uncles, 10 Cousins, and many local friends, including Brian and Jenny Scribner, Dave Stevens and family, Scott Dohmen, Jim Egger, Richard Swartz, Colton Goc, and many, many more. Waiting for Scott in Heaven are his cousin, Jeff Engdahl, his uncle, Lanny Thomsen, and his grandparents.

Memorials can be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church.