Scott Alan Mars

Scott Alan Mars, 59, of Shawnee passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Olathe Hospice House with his family by his side. He was born January 16, 1967 in Orange City, Iowa to Donald and Audrey Mars. He was the oldest of five siblings and grew up in Iowa before moving between Nebraska and Iowa, with his family finally landing in Hastings, Nebraska.

In his childhood, he spent his time helping his dad in his mechanic shop, working a multitude of different jobs from helping on family and friends farms, having a paper route, and working in a steak house kitchen. After attending Maurice Orange City High School for 3 years in Orange City, Iowa, his family moved for the last time to Hastings, Nebraska where he graduated from Hastings Senior High School in 1985. He had a natural talent for football which led to him getting a scholarship from the University of Nebraska-Omaha as a defensive lineman. When not getting up to “debauchery” in his college years, he continued to showcase his strong work ethic at Miller Distribution and Frito Lay. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Restaurant & Institution Management which led him to work for and manage multiple Pizza Hut’s for 8 years, and meeting his wife, Gena. Together they moved from Lincoln, Nebraska to Olathe, Kansas before finally settling in Shawnee, Kansas.

Once in Shawnee, they became franchisees of Goodcents, operating two stores - one in Western Shawnee off of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Midland Drive with the other off of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Pflumm Road for 28 years. They married in 1995 and went on to have three boys. While noticeable in Scott himself, he instilled a natural curiosity, a love for mechanical tinkering, and a learned patience in his boys. Scott was notoriously always willing to lend a helping hand to those around him. His kind and caring nature was truly felt by all.

When he wasn’t working, he upheld his father’s passion for mechanics by working on old cars, particularly one dubbed “the ugly truck” or a number of family members and friends vehicles. Similarly, instead of tinkering on his vehicles, he could be found riding one of his motorcycles into the sunset with his wife, Gena. Most importantly, he could be found spending time with his family. From game nights, to showing the boys how to cook, to a variety of different projects, he was truly a family man and a beloved father and husband.

Scott is survived by his wife Gena (Rediger); children, Samuel, Jacob (Erin Henton), and Ryker Mars; mother Audrey (Mulder) Mars; siblings Audra (Don) Helsley, Bradley (Kim) Mars, Rhonda (Aaron) Aulner, Rachel Robinson; Sisters-in-law Annette (Corey) Dondlinger, Katha (Chad) Mayland; Nieces and Nephews Daniel (Caroline) Helsley, Matthew (Susan) Helsley, Ashley Toplikar, Tyler (Audrey) Mars, Joseph (Colleen) Aulner, Timothy (Michaela) Aulner, Andrew (Samantha) Aulner, Katherine (TJ) Ramm, Maddox Robinson, Aubree Robinson, Chase Mayland, Morgan Mayland. He is preceded in death by his father Donald R. Mars; father-in-law Eugene E. Rediger; mother-in-law Glenda (Schweitzer) Rediger; his grandparents. He is also both survived by and proceeded in death by aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary Sinise Foundation https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/ways-to-give.