Debra (Sleeper) Schaeve

Debra (Sleeper) Schaeve, 72, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2023, after a courageous battle with cancer. Debra was born on June 2, 1951, in Sterling, Ill., and graduated from Newman Central Catholic High School in 1969. Since then, Debra has resided in many places including Ames and Cedar Falls, Iowa as well as Fond du Lac, Minocqua, and Montello. She had a love for socializing, thrifting, dancing, and meeting new people. She worked in numerous jobs within the health care industry while raising her family and up until retirement.

Debra is survived by her son, Zach Kaup; daughter, Kaitlin (Derek) Rinabarger; son, Colin Ecker; daughter-in-law, Amy Kaup; sisters, Sharon Anderson and Kathy (Walt) Shambaugh; previous long-time partner, Michael Newburgh; grandchildren, Damian, Adam, and Brandon Kaup and Reid and Ruby Rinabarger; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Luke Kaup; parents, Jerome and Geraldine Sleeper; brothers, Michael and Patrick Sleeper; and sister, Susan (Sleeper) Ahrens.

A special thank you to the staff of Crossroads Care Center of Weyauwega and Moments Hospice for caring for our mom in her final days.