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Beth Neubauer

August 2, 1943 - January 3, 2021

Beth M’Ree (Shive) Neubauer, 77, of Ankeny, Iowa passed away at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines in the early morning hours of January 3, 2021 due to complications of Covid-19. A private service will be held 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N Ankeny Blvd) and burial will follow at Ankeny Memorial Gardens. To view Beth’s Memorial Service please use this link: https://vimeo.com/500212001

Beth was born to John Martin and Alma Clarette Geraldine (Peterson) Shive on August 2, 1943. Beth, and her twin brother, Robert, were welcomed by their 11-month-old brother, John. Beth was raised in Eldon, Iowa and was proud to be from the home of the American Gothic House and railroad town. It’s been said that her and her brothers may have been a tad ornery, being all so close in age. After graduating from Cardinal High School in 1961, Beth moved to Des Moines and attended the American Institute of Business. She met and married Floyd Neubauer in 1963, and they made their home in Ankeny. Together, they had two children, Michael and Tracy. Beth and Floyd divorced in 1980.

Beth began working in the key punch department at Bankers Life in 1970 which later became Principal Financial and retired in 2002 as a business analyst. She met many dear friends there. Beth loved her family and never passed up the opportunity to brag about or show pictures of her five grandkids and their spouses or her five “great grands” (her name for her great grandchildren). She always had an easy smile to give, was never short on sarcastic comments, told it like it was, and had a giggle that wouldn’t be forgotten once it was heard. She believed in the simple things of doing the right thing, loving deeply and being a good person. She proudly carried the nickname of Gramcracker, or Cracker for short, which was given to her by her older grandkids.

She is survived by her son, Michael (Michelle); daughter, Tracy (Jay) Petersen; grandkids, Kale (Jennifer) Davis, Garrett (Brittany) Davis, Nash Neubauer, Holly Neubauer, and Kara Neubauer; great grandchildren, Mylee, Laney, Emmitt, Hazel and Elliott Davis; brother, Robert (Dorthy) Shive; several nieces and nephews; and her two groups of “girls” which is what she adoringly called her friends that started just as classmates or co-workers and became a part of her family.

A get together for those lucky enough to have known Beth will be held at a later and safer date. The family wishes to thank the employees of DaVita – Ankeny for their care and love shown over the past year and half. Memorial donations are requested to be sent to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.