Timothy "Tim" Schoonover

Timothy (Tim) Schoonover, son of Everett and Reva (Scott) Schoonover was truly one of a kind, an artist and lover of life, he went to a wonderful new home on November 8, 2022, after a courageous battle with renal and heart disease. He was born on January 3, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri and was placed into the loving arms of his parents Everett and Reva. His childhood and youth were on the family farm in rural Ulysses, Kansas where his early childhood education was at a one room schoolhouse. When that school was closed, he went on to attend the schools in Ulysses and graduated from Ulysses High School in 1966. Under the guidance of his art teacher, Judy Scott, his lifelong passion for art began.
Tim continued to pursue his art education at Dodge City Community College and graduated from there in 1966. During his time at Dodge City Community College, he met Alice (Legleiter) while on an Art Class trip to Taos, New Mexico. Tim and Alice were married on August 19, 1967 and continued their education with a degree in Art and Art Education in 1970.
Returning to Dodge City in 1970, he began his career as an Art teacher at Dodge City Junior High School. He loved his students and teaching. A turning point in his career came when he was asked by the superintendent to start an Art Photography program as part of the curriculum. He embraced that idea and wrote the curriculum for the class, which started at the freshman level. Known by his students as "Schoon" the class was unique and successful and soon expanded to a full time four year program at Dodge City Senior High School. Tim was always invested in his students and their success. In 1991 he received the Kansas Art Educator Award.
Tim was part of a group of western Kansas Art teachers who spearheaded the founding of the Western Kansas Scholastic Art Awards a part of the National Scholastic Art Awards. During his teaching career he loved that many of his students won either State or National Scholastic Art Awards in Photography. After a life-altering illness he retired from teaching in 2001. He continued to explore different art media throughout his life. He was known for his photography and his photographic collages.
Exploring the United States and Canada was an adventure that he cherished. He was happy to be on the go and would tell people, "Alice plans the trip and I pack my bag and get in the car." He loved to visit Taos, New Mexico and Yellowstone National Park. Visits to family in Wisconsin were part of his cherished memories. He loved to read, listen to music, go to concerts, plays, and music theater.
Tim was an active member of the community, and he enjoyed working as member of the Community Foundation of Southwest Kansas scholarship committee and being on the board of the Depot Theater Company before he moved from Dodge City.
Throughout his life he loved and was loved by his doggies, Vincent, Valentine, Daisy, Maxee, Meggie, Scout Lee, Jemma Lee, Siddalee, Abby Gale, and is survived by his beloved gift from God, Bella Boo.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Everett and Reva Schoonover, and brother, Jeff Schoonover. He is survived by his wife, Alice of Wichita, Kansas; beloved sister, Suzanne (Dair) Banks of Denver, Colorado; and nephews, Joey Cascia of Strasburg, Colorado and Chad Weston; and great-niece, Aliyah of Long Beach, California.
He is also survived by three incredible people who have remained an integral part of his life, Damon Richardson of San Francisco, California, Nora Mode of Wichita, Kansas and Deanna Champeau-Anderson of Seymour, Wisconsin.
The family will honor Tim's wishes to have a Celebration of Life in June of 2023 at Downing & Lahey Mortuary in Wichita, Kansas. The exact date and time to be announced at a later time.
He suggested memorials to Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd., Wichita, KS 67203, Music Theatre of Wichita, 225 W. Douglas Avenue #202, Wichita, KS 67202, or Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219.