Theresa Ann Theis was a loving wife and mother, a teacher, and a friend to many. She passed away unexpectedly on July 31, 2023 at the age of 59.
Theresa was born August 13, 1963 in Yankton, South Dakota. She was later adopted by John and Martha Kueny (Heide) and she grew up in Allerton, Iowa alongside three other siblings. Following high school, Theresa began a 25-year career with the United States Armed Forces, serving in the Navy, Navy Reserves, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard. While in the Air Force she served at the rank of Technical Sergeant. She met her husband, Jeffrey Theis, while they served together in the Army National Guard. On January 9, 1999 they were united in marriage at the St. Henry Catholic Church in Marshalltown.
After concluding her military career, Theresa decided to return to school and get her degree in education. She received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and began her teaching career in the BCLUW school district in 2003, where she had taught science for three years. She then taught for a year in Sigourney, IA before coming to Marshalltown Community School District in 2007. In 2012 she completed her Master's Degree from UNI.
Theresa was active in her community and in her students' lives. She was a faithful donor to Life Serve Blood Center, where she had given over 6 gallons in her lifetime. She was also a member of the American Legion, Marshalltown Community Theatre, the astronomy club, and did volunteer work monitoring eagles’ nests for the DNR. She stayed active within the lives of her students being the club sponsor for the GSA Club and Science Bound at Marshalltown High School.
In her free time, she enjoyed working in her garden, photographing life around her, and visiting Union Grove Lake and the Green Castle observatory. She loved all things geology, grooming and riding horses, and camping. She always took note to be environmentally conscious and dedicated as much time as possible to her students and to anybody that she could lend a hand to.
She is survived by her husband Jeff Theis; her children, Catheryne Swann and Robert Frazier; her siblings, Lynette (Kurt) Watts and Mike Kueny; her fur babies Pete and Mavryk; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
God of Carnage was to be Theresa's MCT directorial debut and is being performed in her memory.