Jeffry Scott Rients

Jeffry Scott Rients

Center Point

Jeffry Scott Rients, 59, of Center Point, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Per his request a private celebration of life will be held on a future date. Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids, assisted the family.

Jeff was born June 20, 1965, in Estherville, Iowa, the son of Verland and Shirley (Otto) Rients. He graduated from Graettinger High School in Graettinger, Iowa after playing drums in his childhood band, Renegade. This band produced one vinyl 45 when Jeff was just age 14 and was a regional juke box hit with a couple of hit songs. Renegade made its career in the Midwest ballroom circuit and at The Okoboji Roof Garden. Jeff continued his passion of playing music after high school and made his way to California in 1983 to attend the Musician Institute in Hollywood. He decided playing live shows was the best way for him to go. He embarked on the ever-savvy process of putting together music projects. Band line ups included so many different club musicians they can't all be counted or remembered. While actively operating the famed Sunset strip in the 1990's the most influential band of that era with Jeff on drums was a band called Mirror. This staple band played the Whiskey a Go Go, the Roxy theatre and Doug Westins Troubadour.

While Jeff was a devoted musician, he also managed to take a Polysomnography course at Stanford University in 1988 and then was employed doing sleep studies in California. In the mid-90's he moved back to Iowa and did sleep studies for a neurology clinic when he was not touring with The Litterer Band. During this time Jeff also enjoyed camping and traveling with his family and creating memories, especially at the family farm telling stories by the campfire. He continued to play drums in numerous other bands: Rat Bone, Blues Sammy, Prairie Land Band and Farm Rock. Jeff also owned and operated JSR Vending and he was employed by UPS and the Postal Service. His talent as a drummer was immeasurable and in 2023, he was inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band Renegade. Jeff was a lifelong lover of music and that spread to his children and granddaughter. He could always be heard humming a tune and tapping his fingers to the beat when he wasn't playing his drums. Jeff is also known for his sense of humor and gift for conversation. He will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his former wife, Melanie Sievers; children, Elizabeth (Joey) DeLarm and Christopher Rients; grandchildren, Emmy and Nora DeLarm; siblings, Randy (Christina) Rients, Pamela (Steve) Tuschman, and David (Cleide) Rients; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial donations may be directed to the family at PO Box 514, Center Point, Iowa 52213.

Please share a memory of Jeff at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.