Ty Kenny Schoenbauer, 21

Ty Kenny Schoenbauer, age 21, of Wilkinsburg, PA, formerly of New Prague, died tragically by suicide on Sunday, August 23, 2020 in Pittsburgh, PA.  Ty was born on October 26, 1998 in Shakopee and lovingly adopted by Steven and Corrine “Connie” (Sticha) Schoenbauer.  He graduated from New Prague High School and attended Normandale Community College and Gustavus Adolphus College.  Ty was a naturally gifted scholar who learned easily and dabbled in many pursuits, such as learning new languages and exploring the stars and heavens in astronomy.  He had a gift for music, loved to sing and make music, trying out the guitar.  He was also athletic and loved hockey and soccer. He loved to try new foods and to travel, especially the favorite trips with his family to Alaska and Mexico.

 Ty had a giving heart and his amazing empathy always saw him ministering to the disenfranchised and those hurting in spirit.  He was especially attached to the foster children that his parents took in and always felt like his “best friend” was leaving when that child left their home.  He could be found on the floor totally engaged with his nieces and nephews, reveling in the joys of their play. Ty could help others but couldn’t help himself.  Against his family’s hope but with their blessing, Ty moved out to Pittsburgh in August of 2019 to find/meet/live with his birth mother.  He had struggled for quite some time with his identity being adopted and an Asian in a predominantly white community.  His kindness, his compassion for others, his smile in better times – the footprint he has left in his short life is deep and will be forever missed.

 Ty is survived by his loving parents, Steve and Connie Schoenbauer of New Prague; siblings, Shannon (Matthew) Giesen of New Prague, Seth (Kellie) Schoenbauer of Savage, Lexi Rose (Clare Saunders) of Minneapolis, Kylie (Danny) Grimmer of Andover; nieces & nephews, Jack, Claudia, Sam, Kate, Gavin, & Lenny; grandfather, Leonard Sticha of New Prague.  He is preceded in death by his brother, Joseph; grandparents, Rose Ann Sticha, Alfred & Julia Schoenbauer.

 Private family Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2020.  Burial will take place at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Duck Cup Memorial Fund (duckcupmemorial.org) bruzekfuneralhome.com