Sara Schneider

Sara (Ison) Schneider died peacefully, surrounded by her immediate family after losing her battle with a complicated illness.  

Sara was born on September 12, 1978, in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1997.  She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Michigan University.  Sara loved working in the legal system and with law enforcement and in 2003, was recruited by the U.S. Border Patrol to work as an Agent, until she was medically discharged due to leg injuries.  Partly due to her fierce sense of Patriotism, Sara went to work for the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) in Minneapolis, which was important to her after having seen the effects of 9/11 on our Country.  Several years later, she left to work for her parents at Bald Eagle Harley Davidson, in Marquette, Michigan.  Since then, she had several important positions in Child Protective Services and healthcare, always with the intention of helping others in need. Almost daily through her work and her personal life, Sara shared her love for her Country and encouraged others to support those that are deployed and other military Veteran causes. 

Sara loved working for the family business and riding motorcycles. She had many adventures on two wheels across the country.  She also loved being outdoors at camp, hunting, fishing and exploring.  Sara loved to travel and her employment and interests allowed her to see the world.

On May 6, 2008, Sara’s daughter Mira was born.  Sara loved big.  If she loved you, you knew it.  She lived her life with intention and even with her struggles, she made her daughter her priority.  In her last hours, Sara expressed her love for Mira and was overheard consoling Mira as she said goodbye.  One of her great traits was her ability to empathize and to help others feel less discomfort.

Her personality was magnetic.  People gravitated toward Sara to feel her energy, positivity and her kindness.  She loved to laugh and had the world’s greatest smile.  Sara’s sense of humor was one of the best parts of her personality.  She was witty, sarcastic and loved to entertain others.  In her final days and hours, her sense of humor kept those around her laughing and at peace, often quoting funny lines from her favorite movies.

Sara is survived by her daughter Mira, her parents Al and Darby (Johnson) Ison, her brother Jesse (Mandi) Ison, her sisters Carrie Ison (Matthew Krajewski) and Kim Ison (John Holmes), as well as her former husband and close friend, Jeremy Schneider, her step-children Morgan and Troy Schneider, and her mother-in-law Jackie Schneider. She is also survived by her grandmother Majel Ison and nieces and nephews Max, Madden, Bella, Addi, Tally, Tiki and Karlin Ison, Cohen VanEvera and Vera Ison, along with a large extended family on her paternal and maternal sides. 

Sara was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Alton B. Ison, Jr. and Carol Ison, as well as her maternal grandparents Donna and Melvin Johnson.  Sara was very close to her father-in-law, Gary Schneider, who also proceeded her in death.  

A celebration of Sara’s life will take place in early June, 2023.  To RSVP and for more details, please send a message to: CelebrateSara2023@gmail.com.

**In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hazelden Betty Ford Clinic in Minnesota at Donate to Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation .