Carissa "Cissa" Schneider

Carissa “Cissa” Beutler Schneider, of Urbandale, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 15, 2022 after living with Alzheimers for many years.

Cissa was born Carissa Jean Beutler on August 23, 1953 in Ennis, Texas, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska where she graduated from Benson High School. She married Bob Schneider in 1976. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Nebraska, her Masters of Science in Nursing at Texas Women’s University and her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner post-graduate degree from the University of Iowa. She spent the majority of her career as a nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner working with disadvantaged communities in the Des Moines area and was a longtime employee of Blank Children’s Hospital. Outside of work Cissa was a cub scout leader for her son’s cub scout troop, a coach for her kids’ Odyssey of the Mind teams, and a Sunday School teacher. She volunteered at the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and as a tutor for Des Moines area students. She spent many hours riding and caring for her horse, Billy, and enjoyed playing the piano. Once her grandkids came along, Cissa never missed an opportunity to spend time with them.

Cissa was a voracious reader who never stopped learning. She had infinite compassion for kids and animals, and she gamely tolerated her husband’s bad jokes. She supported the underdog in life and the Cornhuskers in football. She laughed often and joyfully, and her family will miss her knack for always seeing the best in them.

She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Beutler; her husband, Robert “Bob” Schneider; her sons, and daughters in-law, Robert and Nicole Schneider and Chris and Rachel Schneider; her daughter and son in-law, Tessa Schneider and Justin Hartupee; her five grandchildren; Wren, Sam, and Matt Hartupee and Jamie and Georgia Schneider; her four siblings, Chris Beutler (Judy), Cindi Gehrig (Roger), Cassi Hilding (Michael), and Eric Beutler (Xiaoli); many nieces and nephews; and her devoted dog, Dart.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Beutler.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Valley United Methodist Church, 4201 Ashworth Road in West Des Moines. Services will be livestreamed link text. Visitation will take place from 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 4 at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway also in West Des Moines.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Blank Children's Hospital or the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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