Denise “Niecy” Irene Schoenberger, 79, of Dubuque, surrounded at home by her loving family, danced and sang her way up the stairway to heaven, to the waiting arms of her precious son Donnie, her life and dance partner Bud, and a smiling circle of family and friends, welcoming her home and lighting the way for her to fulfill one of the things she was most looking forward to – a talk with the Lord, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on  Monday, March 9, 2026, at Holy Spirit Parish, Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 2921 Central Ave., with the Rev. Jeffrey I. Frieden officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. To celebrate Denise’s life, friends and family may visit before Mass from 9:00a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Holy Ghost Church.

Denise was born on August 14, 1946, in Dubuque, the daughter of Loras and Mary Ellen (Holdren) Finn. She was the 9th of 12 children, growing up with lots of love, shenanigans, and work ethic.

Always a hard worker, she took on babysitting and waitressing jobs before spending a career in factory work at Caradco and then A.Y. McDonald Mfg, where she built lifelong friendships.

Denise met the love of her life, Bud, at a dance hall when they were just teenagers. After a few years of dancing the nights away, they married on June 18, 1966. They built a life together, bringing up four strong, independent, compassionate, wise, and confident children.

Denise was a fun, family oriented, faith filled woman who was so full of life and kindness, with a side of sass. She rarely missed an opportunity to tell it like it is. Her presence emanated love, patience, kindness, strength, resolve, and safety. She had the best laugh…her wit and humor usually resulted in a good belly laugh before the day was over.

Denise’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were truly the center of her universe.  She was well aware of the true riches in life – spending time being present with those you love, ensuring music fills the air while singing and dancing along, expressing love through more than words, creating meaningful traditions for the big things like holidays and the small things like saying “I love you” before hanging up the phone, making sure her home, ears, and heart were always a welcoming and safe space, and teaching her children not only to pray but to talk to God about anything, that His love is that of a parent’s and there is nothing you could do to lose it so take your trials and triumphs to Him.

While Lewy Body Dementia did it’s darndest to steal her from us, much of her personality, including her sense of humor, love, and kindness, showed up in moments of time. For those who engaged with her in these final years, thanks for the patience shown and the joy you brought her. Please remember not only who she was these past several years but the amazing person she was before LBD showed up. Know that she is now free from all suffering, whole and healed, talking with the Lord, dancing and singing, and awaiting the day we will all be together again.

Survivors include her children, Dawn (Randy) Cogan of East Dubuque, IL, David (Mary Jo) Schoenberger of Cuba City, WI, and Stacy Schoenberger of Lyons Co; siblings Ellen Vandermeulen and Tom (Kathy) Finn of Dubuque; grandchildren RJ (Danielle) Willis, Chris (Kate) Cogan, AJ (Corin) Cogan, Tim (Andrea) Cogan, Jennifer (Cody) Gesie, Hannah Schoenberger, Madison Tull, Christian Tull, Harper Leino, and Ella Leino; great grandchildren Raychel, Brynn, Olivia & Liam Willis, Yasha & Mila Cogan, Ledger, Pryce, & Crue Cogan, Lillian Cogan, and Kyson & Bryar Gesie; and many beloved nieces & nephews, included Lance Schoenberger who walked closely alongside her through this LBD journey.

Denise was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Robert “Bud” Schoenberger Sr.; son, Donald Robert “Donnie” Schoenberger Jr.; her parents and many in-laws; nine siblings Mary, Jack, Billy, Patty, Michael “Mickey”, Loras, Shirley, Marsha, and Agnes; and nieces Vickie, Jackie, Deborah, Katie, and Michele.

A special thank you to the staff at Hospice of Dubuque, including both their Palliative and Hospice Care teams, as well as the family that has surrounded and cared for her in this LBD journey: Dawn, Randy, David, Stacy, Lance, Tommy, and Ellen.

Online condolences may be left for the family at https://www.leonardfuneralhome.com