Walter J. Scott Jr. "Scotty"

Walter John Scott Jr. (“Scotty”), 88, of Oshkosh, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, dedication, and service that touched so many lives.

Scotty was an Oshkosh native, born November 18th, 1936, as an only child to the late Walter John Scott Sr. and Reba Gliden Scott. His early childhood home stood on the ground that would later become part of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh campus.

Scotty attended Oshkosh High School, spending his evenings and weekends working at his father’s business, Walter Scott Meat Markets. He graduated high school in June 1954 and went on to study at Lawrence University where he met the love of his life, Lynn Walter. Scotty graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1958 and immediately joined the US Navy in Officer Candidate School. Scotty and Lynn were married in 1959 and spent their first two years as newlyweds living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan where Scotty was stationed. Scotty completed five years of active duty in the Navy and served an additional 22 years in the Naval Reserve, ultimately retiring at the rank of Commander.

The couple returned to Oshkosh in 1963. Scotty entered the financial services industry, thanks to the encouragement and mentorship of a close family friend, Warren F. Coe. During Scotty’s 53-year career, he served as President of the Wisconsin Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and contributed to several of their national committees. Scotty's business success stemmed from his strong drive, love of helping others, and his passion for connecting people. He was a recognized industry speaker on 401(k) plans and served on the State of Wisconsin's Joint Survey Committee of Retirement Systems. Independence Financial, the business Scotty grew and led for many decades, continues its 93-year history and is led by his son, Michael Scott, as the firm’s third generation of ownership.

In 1965, Scotty and Lynn started their family of four children and eventually made their home on Washington Avenue, where childhoods unfolded, traditions took root, and lasting memories were made. A devoted family man, Scotty always found time for his children’s school activities & sporting events, regularly championed “pajama rides” to the local ice cream parlor, and he loved cooking a feast on the grill for family and friends.

Scotty was a proud shareholder and season ticket holder at Lambeau Field and loved sharing the thrill of game days with family and friends. He also found joy in a lifetime of boating, traveling with Lynn, and orchestrating family vacations that created lifelong memories for their children and grandchildren. A highlight of the past three decades was the annual 4th of July parties where kids and grandkids gathered for pool time, BBQs, and fireworks. This was the grandchild approved stamp of summer success each year. Most recently, Scotty and Lynn celebrated 66 remarkable years of marriage, a journey grounded in enduring faith, love, and unwavering devotion to family.

Scotty and Lynn were raised in families deeply rooted in the Episcopal tradition, a foundation that guided their life together. Faith, family, and community remained their compass, with St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Menasha as their spiritual home. There, Scotty served as trustee and senior warden, and also as trustee for the Diocese of Fond du Lac. His unwavering dedication to his church was a source of comfort and inspiration to many.

Scotty had the privilege of serving as president of the Bay-Lakes Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Oshkosh Kiwanis, Miss Wisconsin pageant, and University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation. He was awarded the UWO Chancellor’s award and served on the boards of Valley Christian School, Mercy Medical Center and Affinity Health System.

In his later years, Scotty served as co-founder and longtime president of Excellence in Leadership (EIL), which hosts semiannual luncheons where a prominent business leader shares how they lead their businesses with Christian ethics. These events consistently draw over 500 attendees, and EIL recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. He also founded the Oshkosh Civility Project, shaping its mission to foster respectful dialogue and positive community engagement, an initiative now endorsed by both the City of Oshkosh and the Oshkosh Area School District.

Scotty's kindness, wisdom, and community spirit left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him. His legacy will live on in the hearts of his family, friends, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched.

Scotty is preceded in death by his parents Walter Scott Sr. and Reba Scott. He is survived by his wife Lynn Scott; son Walter John Scott III (Sidney) of Truckee, CA and their children Vivian and Harley; daughter Laura Coopman (Don) of Oshkosh, WI and their children Candice, Caleb, Joshua, and Elijah; daughter Melissa Kuhn (Peter) of San Diego, CA and their children Nikolas and Eva; son Michael Scott (Lisa) of Oshkosh, WI and their children Denver and Serena. Scotty is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Lilie, Valarie, and Iyla, as well as several beloved extended family members, including Kathy Durand and the Linden and Rudesill families, all of whom held a special place in his heart. He was also preceded in death by Florence Raddatz, whose memory he cherished deeply.

Visitation for Scotty will be held on Friday, October 17, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Konrad-Behlman Funeral Home-Westside, 100 Lake Pointe Drive, Oshkosh. A funeral service will follow on Saturday, October 18, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Menasha, with military honors immediately after. Prior to the service, visitation will be held at the church beginning at 9:30 a.m. A private burial will take place at Lake View Memorial Park Cemetery in Oshkosh.

Scotty’s family is deeply grateful to Ascension Mercy, Evergreen Skilled Nursing, Aspire Oshkosh, Care Patrol, and Generations Hospice for the compassion, comfort, and support they showed to Scotty and our family throughout his journey.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be directed to the Boy Scouts of America or St. Thomas Episcopal Church. As another tribute, friends may honor Scotty by signing the Oshkosh Civility Project Pledge, a gesture reflecting his lifelong commitment to respectful dialogue and community engagement.