David A. Neff

     David A. Neff, 77, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Friday, October 31, 2025 at Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield.

     Memorial Services celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2025 at First United Methodist Church in Fairfield. A luncheon and time for gathering of friends and family will follow until 2:00 p.m. Private family burial will be at Fell Cemetery in Libertyville. Memorials may be made to the Carnegie Museum Foundation or Jefferson County Historical Preservation Commission. Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield is assisting the family.

     Dave was born November 9, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Julius Cleveland and Nelle Conner Thompson Neff. After graduating high school, Dave moved to Fairfield and enrolled in Parsons College, graduating in 1969 and later began teaching at the college. While at Parsons, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He married Sally Rinehart Sheffield, April 1, 1972. They later divorced. Dave married Sheri (Lint) Blough, May 26, 2007 at First United Methodist Church.

     After teaching at Parsons, Dave found a job as a cashier at Iowa State Bank. Over his 35-year career he rose through the ranks, becoming president of the bank, a role he held for four years.

     Dave was an active civic minded citizen of Fairfield, serving on numerous boards including, Greater Jefferson County Foundation, Carnegie Museum Foundation, Parsons College Foundation, Parsons Alumni Association, Fairfield Parks and Recreation, Fairfield Arts and Convention Center and Octoberfest. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield for over 40 years and later First United Methodist Church in Fairfield. Dave was honored as Fairfield Citizen of the Year in 1985.

     Dave attended the Drake Relays as an annual event with friends and family for 54 years. He was an annual Santa’s helper on the square and at various events during the Christmas season, ran in the annual Parks and Rec Turkey Trot, served as an official for 30 years for Fairfield High School Cross Country and Track, and mentored children in an investment club.

     In 2017, Dave and Sheri donated 36 acres of land, known as Neff Wetland, for wetland preservation in collaboration with the Iowa National Heritage Foundation.

     Dave also belonged to special groups where various life problems were discussed and solved; the Templeton Rye Templers, and the Glasgow Road Mafia, where he and his friends had controlled prairie burns.

     Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Sheri Blough Neff; children, Laurie (Jamie) Swanson of Bondurant, Iowa, Betsy (Kelly) Luck of Oskaloosa; and Scott (Allison) Blough of Sanford, North Carolina; grandchildren, Spencer and Parker Swanson, Reid and Mia Luck, and August Blough; and many dear friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents.