Lisa Schumacher, beloved sister, daughter, and friend, passed away on September 8, 2024.
Born September 11, 1962, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Peter and Barbara Schumacher, Lisa was the second daughter in what became a family of 4 girls. A born leader, Lisa loved directing her sisters in Christmas plays, baton twirling routines, and water ballet sequences in the lake at the family’s cottage Up North.
The family moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1972. Lisa excelled in school, loving the learning, reading, and socializing. Musically talented, Lisa played the clarinet in band and marching band throughout her school years, learned to play the saxophone to participate in the Jazz Band, then the bassoon to be part of the high school orchestra. As part of the orchestra, Lisa played in the pit orchestra for the high school musicals.
This love of musical theatre became a life-long passion, and Lisa had season tickets to see all the musicals that toured through SLC. Eager for the latest shows, Lisa was known to travel to San Francisco or Las Vegas to see them. Loving travel, Lisa took many cruises, to Hawaii, the east coast to see the fall colors, and several to Alaska. She took up photography to capture the sights and wildlife seen during her travels so she could share these special moments with family and friends back home.
Lisa earned a business degree at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Having joined the LDS church in college, which supported her desire to help others, Lisa moved to Provo to earn her master’s degree in counseling / marriage and family therapy at BYU. She started her counseling career at Provo Canyon School, then as a therapist at Wasatch Mental Health. Discovering a talent for administration at Wasatch Mental Health, Lisa became a program manager and then the Adult Services Division Director. She was involved in developing and implementing the Mental Health Court and the Wellness Recovery Clinic in Utah County. The WRC was recognized within the state as a model for providing behavioral health services to the unfunded population.
Successful in her career, and indomitable in all her health issues, Lisa survived a liver transplant in 2013 to live a quieter life filled with new interests: learning to design websites and run social media campaigns, pursuing painting and journaling via on-line instruction, even fostering a puppy. Highlights of this life included weekly Zoom calls with her family, reading voraciously, and visits from many good friends, which often included making art or watching movies, often of musicals.
Lisa is preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Schumacher. Survivors include her father, Peter Schumacher, and 3 sisters, Karen, MaryLynn, and Kelly, all of Colorado, and very good friends Kim, Christie, and Melanie. The family wishes to extend their thanks to the many home health care nurses for all their care and compassion over the past few years.
A celebration of Lisa’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 4:30 – 6, at The Church of Latter-Day Saints, 1627 Cadbury Ln, Springville, Utah 84663.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to NAMI, Utah: https://www.namiut.org/
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