Mary Louise Lewis Schonberger

As a young child, she loved to visit her grandparents on the family farm. This is where she developed her love of gardening, animals, and nature. Her many cousins would often be with her on the farm.

As a young girl, she especially enjoyed helping out at her father's service station in St. Clair.

During her teen years, she became an accomplished clarinetist. She also played the piano and was very involved in high school clubs and activities.

After high school, she attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. In 1954, she married Charles Schonberger. She became a devoted mother to five sons and thoroughly enjoyed her years as a homemaker and manager of a household full of five rambunctious boys. In her spare time, she was also a substitute teacher.

After several moves around the country, the family settled in Kansas City, Missouri. It was here that Mary had the time to pursue her passion for teaching others to live healthier and more spiritual lives. She received certifications for fitness and water aerobics teaching, as well as for yoga and massage therapy.

She enjoyed working at Bally's fitness center for almost 30 years and helped hundreds of people improve their quality of life through fitness and alternative therapies.

In 2002, Mary moved to Denver to be closer to three of her sons and their growing families. Nothing lit up her day more than spending time with her grandsons and granddaughters. She was an excellent teacher, passing along her love of nature and her enthusiasm for life, both physical and spiritual. Mary was very involved in the community and church life at Columbine United Church. She enjoyed participating in book clubs, care groups and other myriad social activities. Mary will always be remembered for her engaging and outgoing personality, her zest for life, and her desire and willingness to nurture and care for everyone she met.

She is survived by four sons, two daughter-in-laws, eleven grandchildren and her younger sister: Jeffrey Schonberger of Phoenix, Arizona and his children Brett-21, Andrew-18 and Melissa-16; Mark Schonberger (deceased 2004) and his children: Nichole-23 and Chris-21; Michael and Vanessa Schonberger of Littleton, Colorado and their children: Bryce-25 and Dana-23; Scott Schonberger of Atlanta, Georgia and his sons: Tanner 8 and Reed-6; Douglas and Tammy Schonberger of Littleton, Colorado and their daughters: Lauren-6 and Megan-4; Janice Siess, sister, of San Antonio, Texas