Steamboat Pilot & Today

Former Steamboat Springs resident Robert Kenneth Neff died peacefully on Aug. 22, 2005, at the home of friends in Rio Vista, Calif. He was 63.

Neff was born Sept. 28, 1942, in South Bend, Ind., the only son of Chick and Millie Neff. He spent his childhood in Burlington, Iowa, and graduated from Burlington High School where he was a member of the golf team. He attended Colorado State University and Iowa Wesleyan College.

He served in the Navy on the USS Holland stationed in Rota, Spain.

Returning to Burlington, he worked at the IAAP as a production foreman and supervisor. He later moved to Breckenridge where he was employed by Stan Miller Inc. as a heavy equipment operator.

For a short time, he worked on the Alaskan pipeline. He then settled near Steamboat Springs, spending his winters in Baja California Sur in Mexico.

From an early age, Neff had a great love of the outdoors, hunting, fishing, playing golf and hiking and was also a great fan of the Broncos and Rockies.

Most of all, he cherished his wide circle of friends who supported and surrounded him with love during his courageous fight against brain cancer. Neff was able to enjoy a living wake this summer at Steamboat Lake attended by many friends who enjoyed one more of his gentle smiles.

Throughout his travels, he was accompanied by his good friend, an Australian Shepherd named Shadow.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Neff is survived by his sister, Sherry Chase of Casselberry, Fla.; one nephew, Kevin Chase of Orlando, Fla.; one niece, Meghan Chase Freeman; and one grandniece, Chase Elizabeth Freeman, of Winter Park, Fla.

There is to be no formal service. His friends will share in the spreading of his ashes in places he loved.