Heather S. Schoonover

Heather Suzanne Schoonover, of Marion, Iowa, was born to Greg and Kristy Schoonover on Oct. 23, 1991, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  She celebrated her “Golden Birthday” (23 on the 23rd) in October 2014. On Feb. 5, 2015, Heather heeded God’s calling and made the journey home.

Heather was very creative, and loved all of the colors of God’s rainbow. A celebration of her life was held in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, with several hundred of her friends and relatives attending, all dressed festively and comfortably, as Heather would have wished.  In honor of her life of sharing art, God’s love, music and poetry, Heather’s casket was lovingly adorned with symbols and verse by those attending. She was laid to rest on Monday, Feb. 9, at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Heather graduated from Alburnett High School in Alburnett, Iowa in 2010. She was active in art shows, plays, wrestling cheerleading, choir, Future Business Leaders of America, and was a talented artist.  She had been studying photography at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa.  She enjoyed karate classes and tournaments.

In the spirit of her servant heart, Heather was an organ donor, signed for the deaf at church, was involved with Chrysalis, and donated her wedding gown to St. Luke’s Hospital to be made into angel gowns.

Heather is survived by her parents, Greg Schoonover, of Clear Lake, and Kristy (Mike) Flack, of Marion; grandparents,  Clifford and Freida Chesick, Albion, Iowa, Dr. Robert E. (Bonnie) Hammer, Faribault, Minn. and Heather’s heart adopted grandparents, Harry and Linda Odeen; her aunts and uncles, Karen (Ed) Haubach, Randy (Dawn) Chesick, Gary (Eloise) Flack, Elon (Jane) Flack, Fred (Veronica) Flack, Beth (Rick) Hammer Wion, Waterloo, Iowa, Deb (Gary) Valenta, and great-uncle Bill (Helvig) Nations, Waialua, HI; her cousins, Trenton Wion, Amanda (Tyler) Schnuckel, and Scott Chesick.  Heather is also survived by her fiance, Dan Richards, Cedar Falls, Iowa, and former roommate and close friend, Jenny (Dan) Petersen, Waterloo, Iowa.

She was proceeded in death by her paternal grandfather, Robert Clayton Schoonover, paternal grandmother, Margaux/Marguerite Kitti (Nations) Schoonover Hammer, and her aunt, Cathi Johans.

A memorial fund in Heather’s name has been established at Clear Lake Bank and Trust, Clear Lake.