Anastasia E. Schauer

SCHAUER, Anastasia E.
of Denver, Colorado
formerly of Kalamazoo
9/17/1987 - 8/15/2012 If you should see a very bright and beautiful wild flower dancing in a meadow, please know it is our daughter Anastasia. She was taken from us when she died in an auto accident in Colorado. Her beauty and effervescence was surpassed only by our love for her. She robustly embraced life with determination and without regret. She was a fiercely loyal friend, and time you spent with her was equal parts celebration, surprise, and adventure. Ana took us camping, hiking, climbing, and fishing, and she loved to hang out with a wide cast of characters, including her dog Harley. Her family and friends were everything to her. She considered long walks, bike rides, and car trips with her parents her bonding or as she would put it, bondage time, to which she contributed her unbridled sense of humor. She loved to curl up in the loving embrace of her sister, Kate, and they spent the past several years deepening their relationship and exploring Colorado together. With her brother, Jake, she engaged in school skipping, long monopoly games, and gentle mayhem. Anastasia graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, where she lettered in soccer and swimming, and the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, where she proclaimed herself Queen of the Nerds. She attended Western Michigan University on a Heyl Scholarship, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She was pursuing her career as a nurse on the telemetry floor at the Skyridge Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. She loved her job and her life in her adopted home of Colorado. She was a member of the Quapaw tribe of Oklahoma. There were so many people who touched her life and whose lives she touched. Her death leaves a deep wound in the hearts of her parents, Mark and Cynthia, her sister and brother-in-law Kate and Andrew, and her brother and sister-in-law Jake and Lindsey. She was also a special gift to her grandparents Jan and Warren Schauer and Shirley Ray, and to her aunts, uncles, and cousins Bob and Mary Jo, Lindsey, Andrew, and Evan Schauer; Jon and Anastasia, Katherine, and Nicholas Schauer; Joel and Kathy, Jennifer, Melissa, and Jacob Schauer; Mike and Cindy, Cody, Nicholas, and Luke Ray; Craig and Lisa, Zachary, and Alexandra Ray; Jeff and Leslie, Charles, Zoe, and Samuel Ray. She was also the goddaughter of our dear friends Pam and Pete Franklin. She will be greeted by her Papa Charles Ray, her grandfather who preceded her in death. At the moment of impact Anastasia and her loyal dog Harley walked off into eternity together. In remembrance of her life, we will celebrate with a visitation and funeral Mass. The visitation will be at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM on Friday, August 24. The funeral Mass will be at 11 AM on Saturday, August 25, at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, 421 Monroe Street. In honor of Anastasia, please dress in bright colors for the visitation, and for the Mass please arrive 5 minutes late and sit in the back of the church. In lieu of flowers or for those so inclined, gifts in Anastasia's honor can be sent via the following address: Anastasia Schauer Memorial Fund, WMU Foundation, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49008-5403. Gifts can also be made at MyWMU.com/MyGift or by phone at 269-387-8746.